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Now, Khurshid raises pitch for sub-categorisation of OBCs?
The Congress, which is trying hard to woo minorities by giving 4.5 per cent sub-quota to them from among 27 per cent reservation of Other Backward Classes, has advocated sub-categorisation of the OBC quota to provide equitable distribution of reservation benefits to all the backward communities.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid has made a strong plea for this in the latest issue of party mouthpiece Congress Sandesh while party spokesman Rashid Alvi said that he has always been in favour of such sub-categorisation. Alvi had even recommended it to the top leadership of the Congress.
“The Government is within its legitimate rights to make sub- categorisation among the OBCs, which would lead to more equitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/communities included in the broad category of OBC,” Khurshid said. He also pointed out that nine states already have sub-categorisation of OBC list.
Supporting Khurshid’s argument, Alvi said, “I have been suggesting this for the past many years that to do justice with all backward classes we should have separate sub-quota for them in proportion to their population. This will ensure that no one is exploited and every backward community gets equal share of reservation benefit.”
At present dominant castes like Yadav and Kurmi are the major beneficiary of 27 per cent reservation for OBC while other communities like those belonging to minorities and Dhobi, Nai and Gadadia (washermen, barber and shepherds) remain behind, Congress sources pointed out. They said sub-categorisation will ensure that all these backward communities will reap equal benefit. They also said separate sub-quota for the Most Backward Communities will help them climb the development ladder. The sub-quota for minorities and MBC is also part of the Congress election manifesto in Uttar Pradesh to woo minorities and MBC to its side.
Khurshid, who had earlier faced Election Commission’s ire for announcing that 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities would be increased to 9 per cent in UP but whose idea did not find place in party’s election manifesto to avoid any backlash from other sections of OBC, made a lot of efforts to justify the minority sub-quota.
He cited the findings of Sachar Committee that went into the issue of the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims had recommended affirmative action for Muslims through separate reservation.
Khurshid said although the backward sections of minority population were included in the Central list of OBC, there has been a growing demand over the last two decades that a separate quota was required for them as major sections of minorities are most backward in the country.
The Congress, which is trying hard to woo minorities by giving 4.5 per cent sub-quota to them from among 27 per cent reservation of Other Backward Classes, has advocated sub-categorisation of the OBC quota to provide equitable distribution of reservation benefits to all the backward communities.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid has made a strong plea for this in the latest issue of party mouthpiece Congress Sandesh while party spokesman Rashid Alvi said that he has always been in favour of such sub-categorisation. Alvi had even recommended it to the top leadership of the Congress.
“The Government is within its legitimate rights to make sub- categorisation among the OBCs, which would lead to more equitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/communities included in the broad category of OBC,” Khurshid said. He also pointed out that nine states already have sub-categorisation of OBC list.
Supporting Khurshid’s argument, Alvi said, “I have been suggesting this for the past many years that to do justice with all backward classes we should have separate sub-quota for them in proportion to their population. This will ensure that no one is exploited and every backward community gets equal share of reservation benefit.”
At present dominant castes like Yadav and Kurmi are the major beneficiary of 27 per cent reservation for OBC while other communities like those belonging to minorities and Dhobi, Nai and Gadadia (washermen, barber and shepherds) remain behind, Congress sources pointed out. They said sub-categorisation will ensure that all these backward communities will reap equal benefit. They also said separate sub-quota for the Most Backward Communities will help them climb the development ladder. The sub-quota for minorities and MBC is also part of the Congress election manifesto in Uttar Pradesh to woo minorities and MBC to its side.
Khurshid, who had earlier faced Election Commission’s ire for announcing that 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities would be increased to 9 per cent in UP but whose idea did not find place in party’s election manifesto to avoid any backlash from other sections of OBC, made a lot of efforts to justify the minority sub-quota.
He cited the findings of Sachar Committee that went into the issue of the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims had recommended affirmative action for Muslims through separate reservation.
Khurshid said although the backward sections of minority population were included in the Central list of OBC, there has been a growing demand over the last two decades that a separate quota was required for them as major sections of minorities are most backward in the country.
