Backward Muslims demand tickets, jobs ahead ahead of UP polls

Even as the four major players in UP — SP, BSP, BJP and Congress — are burning the midnight oil to zero in on a winning formula, Muslim OBCs have put them on notice demanding more tickets for the upcoming crucial assembly elections and also for them to commit on the recent ruling of the National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC), calling for a legislation to bind private entities, to reserve 27 per cent of jobs for OBCs.

A national convention of Ansari Muslims (Weaver class) organised by senior Congress leader Shakeel-uz-Zaman Ansari, and also attended by the Muslim OBC leaders from the BSP and the SP, warned these parties for ignoring the community, which according an NSSO data comprises 40.7 per cent population of Indian Muslims. They also asked these parties to clear their positions on Muslim reservation.

Like Dalits, who have iconised Dr B R Ambedkar across the political divide, the convocation decided to idolise noted freedom fighter late Abdul Qaiyum Ansari, who was also the founder of All India Momin Conference to counter the Muslim League in 1937. He later dissolved it as a political body, but continued it as a social and economic organisation. Qaiyum Ansari in Bihar and Zia ur Rehman Ansari in UP formed the backbone of Congress party's appeal for the backward Muslim community.

The participants lamented that during the last Bihar assembly polls, only Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) doled just one ticket to an Ansari Muslim and that too from a very tough seat. BSP leader Salim Anari, who also spoke, said this would not be allowed to repeat in the UP polls. Shakeel uz Zaman Ansari said just two decades ago, UP, Bihar as well as at Central ministries were represented by more than one Ansari (Momin) ministers. But currently there is just a lone Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar who represents the dominant Muslim community. Ansari, who is also a member of National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) lamented that secular parties creating a fear of the BJP were denying tickets and share of power to Muslims. The Convocation, however, did not commit on supporting any political party in the elections. "We are not politically inclined and cannot give a call to our community for supporting any particular party. We are demanding a due representation of our community, when mandates are doled out," Zaman Ansari said.

He also called for bringing a legislation to make reservation in private, philanthropic and cooperative sectors compulsory. He said that employment in government and public sectors has been slowly dwindling over the last two decades and "under the circumstances, the only option to complete the unfinished agenda of socio-economic equality is to allow the disadvantaged groups to come up through reservations in private sector jobs".

Ansari said the Commission is of the view that it would eventually be to the benefit of the Indian society at large — its productivity and overall development "the fruits of which cannot be restricted to only a section that has traditionally been better off, an advantageous position to reap benefits of economic growth". Last February the NCBC, a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, had recommended that legislation be passed under which private entities, including businesses, hospitals, schools, trusts, etc will have to reserve 27 per cent of jobs for OBCs.