Ministry wants 8.4% for minorities in OBC quota

The commission,which was tasked with suggesting criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities and to suggest measures for their welfare,had recommended 10 per cent quota for Muslims and 5 per cent for other minorities in government jobs and non-minority educational institutions.

As an alternative route,it had suggested carving out a sub-quota within the OBC quota. Sources said the proposal of the Minority Ministry and another one by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry would now be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. Sources said the government is treading cautiously as it knows well that tinkering the OBC quota can trigger some resistance from OBCs.

As the UP polls are being targeted,this move could set the cat among the pigeons for parties like the SP as it could pit its two crucial vote banks — Muslims and OBC Yadavs — against each other. As OBCs in UP are still not seen as the Congress’s base,expecting them to make way for a slice for minorities may not hurt Congress’s support base.

As far as Muslims are concerned,the idea,it is learnt,was to include majority of the Muslims in the OBC quota since they are socially and economically backward. A similar model is being followed by Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka and Kerala and the Congress manifesto in 2009 had promised to adopt this model at the national level. The entire community cannot be included as religious reservation is not permitted by the Constitution.

Since,the concept of creamy layer is applicable for OBC reservations,the government hopes a sizeable section of the Muslims who are socially and economically backward would benefit from the move. Sources said the government’s urgency is also because of the fact that the model code of conduct which would come into effect after announcement of the election schedule in five states would prevent it from making any such announcement.

Creating a 8.4 per cent quota for minorities within the OBC quota would also benefit Christian and Sikh backwards and other non-Hindu castes among OBCs.