Hyderabad, India - After being repeatedly rebuffed by the courts, the Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday approved an ordinance making way for four per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions.
But Muslim leaders say creating caste differences within the Muslims can be dangerous.
Four per cent reservation for 14 different classes of Muslims put in category E of backward classes; that's the formula the Andhra Pradesh government has worked out to circumvent objections raised for extending reservations to the minority community.
With that total reservations in the state will just about touch the legal limit of 50 per cent and the new quota is technically based not on religion but on backwardness.
The Andhra Pradesh government points out that four times - in 1968, 1982, 2004 and 2005 - the government unsuccessfully tried to bring in reservation for Muslims. That's why this time they have opted for putting 14 different classes of Muslims in category E of backward classes.
The move, the government says, will cover 80-85 per cent of the Muslim population in the state.
Several Muslim leaders have however objected to the use of this criterion saying it will cause divisions in the community.
''There is no empirical evidence or data or population figures. How can they go ahead with this,'' said Asaduddin Owaisi, Hyderabad MP.
''Everywhere that is the case, in Bihar, UP, MP, Gujarat. Nowhere there is 100 per cent quota for Muslims. They are divided on the basis of social backwardness,'' said Mohd Shabbir Ali, Minority Welfare minister.
The government has said once the ordinance is issued, it will withdraw the special leave petition it has filed in the Supreme Court where a case of five per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions is pending.
Christians in Andhra Pradesh have also demanded a quota of their own after the state cabinet approved an ordinance on Wednesday to grant 4% reservation to economically backward Muslims in jobs and educational institutions.
The community members are demanding that Andhra Pradesh follow the Tamil Nadu example wherein Christians are included in the 5% reservation for Muslims. A memorandum will be submitted to the chief minister next week, said Christian Front, which is lobbying for the quota.
The Front also demanded a fresh census of Christians in the state by an independent body, saying the government statistics of 6% is "incorrect".
"Christians account for 10-15% of the state’s population. An independent body should survey this and it can also be verified from church memberships," said Bhaskar Benny, president of the Front.
While a new category called Backward Class Group C was introduced for scheduled caste Christians during the time of T Anjaiah, community members say its benefits are minimal. "We are a minority community and the benefits for minorities are different from those in backward classes.