It is difficult to be a man of conscience and not concerned with the plight of the downtrodden, the have-nots and the marginalised. Even after 62 years of independence, with our sworn commitment to secure liberty, equality and fraternity to every citizen of India and in spite of our constant promises to provide justice, social, economic and political for every individual, discrimination is widespread and rampant in India. Muslims have been the worst victims of overwhelming prejudice and overall marginalisation in every field.
Justice Sachar Committee Report has clearly brought to light the deprivation of the largest minority in government jobs, education and development benefits. In West Bengal alone the Muslims are 24.7 per cent but are given a paltry 2.1 per cent share of jobs. The Government has perpetrated this injustice without blinking. Now it has promised a 10 per cent reservation for Muslims, not out of any sense of justice, but because of the fear of losing power in the fast approaching Assembly elections.
Go to Wikipedia, out of 1000 leading industrialists the number of Muslims can be counted on the fingers of just one hand. Indians’ overall literacy is 64.8 per cent, and that of Muslims is 59.1 per cent. Go to any private Muslim educational institution and listen to the unending stories of discrimination and injustice. Take the criteria of work participation, bank loans or any other thing, you will see Muslim marginalisation total.
Ranganath Misra Commission has recommended 15 per cent reservation in educational institutions and government jobs for minorities out of which 10 per cent would be exclusively for Muslims. This is a sane and just recommendation, which if implemented properly, would bring down the level of Muslim deprivation considerably. This point should not be lost sight of that Muslims are one seventh of India and the country cannot make real progress by marginalising such a large and important segment.
It was in this context that the National Meet of Reservation Activists, in New Delhi on February 10, which has the solid backing of all major Muslim organisations and support of all political parties, except, as expected, BJP and Shiv Sena, demanded implementation of Misra Commission recommendations.
The convention clarified that it was not demanding any preferential treatment for the Muslims. It wants only the correction of unjust neglect by the succeeding governments. It wants due share of Muslims in nation building and development benefits.
If the Government does not listen to the pitiable cries of the deprived community and does not embark on affirmative action then we should stop tall claims of promoting justice and fair play. Let us hope the powers-that-be will take proactive steps and concede to the demand of 10 per cent reservation for Muslims.
The civil society must play its role, raise its voice against the deprivation Muslims have been suffering and put an end to the continuing injustice being done to the biggest minority of the largest democracy. It would be a litmus test of our democratic principles and sense of justice.