The Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to provide five per cent reservation in education and employment for Muslims has sparked a debate.

THE ANDHRA Pradesh Government's decision to implement five per cent reservation for Muslims in education and employment, excluding the creamy layer, has renewed the debate

 

on the issue of quotas on the basis of religion. The reservation is based on the recommendations of the Backward Classes Commission, which submitted its report on June 14. The

 

State Cabinet on Friday approved it to include Muslims under the `E' category without disturbing the existing reservation for Backward Communities in the `ABCD' categories and

 

sent the draft ordinance to the Governor for approval.

 

The move, hailed by the Congress as a necessary obligation, has been decried, predictably, by the Bharatiya Janata Party. It has threatened to go to court and also explore other

 

moves to cry a halt to the "communal politics of the Congress."

 

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy justified it as "minimum justice" done to Muslims reeling under backwardness. While the State Cabinet accepted the recommendation to

 

provide 5 per cent reservation, it turned down the proposal to include some sections of Muslims (Dudekula, Laddaf, Pinjari/Noorbasha and Mehtar) presently under the BC (B)

 

and BC (A) categories, in the proposed `E' group.         

 

 

 -DC.