Muslim Groups Seek Reservation In Legislative Bodies

VIJAYAWADA: A round-table conference organised by the Muslim United Front (MUF) on Sunday demanded reservation for Muslims and other backward communities in legislative bodies and urged secular political parties to raise the issue in Parliament.

The meeting, held in Guntur under the chairmanship of state president Mohammed Kaleem, discussed the status of Muslims and alternatives to religion-based reservations.

Addressing representatives of various organisations, Kaleem said Muslims had reservations in legislative bodies before Independence, but these were withdrawn after freedom. He alleged that successive governments had denied Muslims reservation benefits by terming religion-based quotas unconstitutional while failing to provide alternative safeguards.

He argued that constitutional amendments for Muslim reservations were possible, noting that the Constitution had already been amended 131 times in the last 75 years.

The conference adopted resolutions seeking reservation in legislatures for OBCs, Christians and Muslims, enhancement of BC quota in local body elections, and strict implementation of reservation norms for SCs, STs, BCs and women in cooperative sector governing bodies.

Leaders from several organisations, including Communist Party of India district secretary Kota Malyadri, participated in the meeting.