Irony: Muslims will vote for 403 seats in UP but can contest just 318

Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is going to polls. The state with a population of nearly 200 million, has the largest Muslim population in the country.

On Wednesday, as poll schedule was announced, a post about the fact that Muslim candidates can't contest all the seats in UP, was being shared widely on social media.

It mentioned that soon after independence, the discrimination began. So Muslims will vote in each constituency but they can't contest in each of them. Why? It is because Muslim Dalits and Muslim Tribals are denied reservation.

As a result, the seats reserved for Dalits, can't have Muslim contestants. This is because of a Presidential ordinance. And, it is true for most other states too--on seats reserved for SCs and most seats reserved for STs too (with some exceptions).

First, Tariq Anwar Champarni, wrote a post on Facebook, in the morning. He mentions, ""India is a secular state where there can't be any discrimination on the basis of religion...but see the other aspect...of all the 4,120 Assembly seats in India across different states and union territories, Muslims can't fight nearly 1161 seats (28%)".

Champarni writes that depriving a community from contesting polls on so many seats, leads to injustice from the beginning. Hindus can fight all the 4,120 seats and Muslims can contest just 1161 seats.

"If you are really secular, just, then you must fight to ensure that the backward-weaker sections among Muslims, get the right to contest election these seats", Champarni further wrote in this post.

Some other writers also expressed similar opinions. Author, journalist Dilip C Mandal also mentioned the fact. "It is a joke of Indian democracy that Muslim candidates can contest just 318 out of 403 seats in UP though they will vote on each seat...."

It is also a fact that often Muslim majority seats are kept reserved. With Muslim representation already low, it hurts the community further, feel observers. 

Will BJP decision to give reservation to Upper Castes in Gujarat help the party or will it boomerang?

Gujarat government has decided to provide 10% reservation to Upper Castes in the State. An ordinance is being brought to this effect.

It is a decision, which may seriously affect the fortunes of the party in the long run. Has it been a decision taken after due consideration and thought?

There are several questions. Is the party flaying with fire? Will the decision help the BJP or it will boomerang.

Firstly, BJP was always seen as a part of Upper Castes, especially, Banias and Brahmins.

As it had to expand its base, it played Dalit card, Tribal card, as well as Backward card, and wooed them.

But, its leaders, core cadre and supporters remain among the Upper Castes. Besides, RSS [Sangh] is mostly dominated by Upper Castes. Has the decision been taken to appease the Upper Castes?

1. Anandiben Patel government has taken a decision and the first thing is to be seen is that whether this decision will stand in the court. The Gujarat government spokesperson says that the government will stand by decision and will fight its case in the court[s].

2. But, then, comes the crucial question. If Upper Castes or Economically Backward Classes [EBCs] among them get quotas in jobs [and education], will it not defeat the very purpose of reservations. Upper Castes have not been marginalised or exploited.

3. The Gujarat government says reservation [in jobs and in higher education] will be to all those whose annual income is Rs 6 lakh. Really! Those earning Rs 5 lakh per month are poor, in Gujarat government's view? That's quite strange.

4. Reservation was a constitutional measure to uplift status of Dalits and Tribals, the historically oppressed and disadvantaged people who were denied education, who were kept out of power, and who suffered untouchability and inequality of the worst kind.

Upper Castes have been over-represented in government jobs. Hence, can it be called fair or it just a means to appease the forward castes and set right the situation in Gujarat, which witnessed Patel agitation.

5. The decision may anger the Backward-Dalit-Tribal supporters of the BJP. Uttar Pradesh is a crucial state. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) may take the BJP to task over this 'reservation decision'.

Already, RSS leaders' statements over reservation, cost BJP, an important state like Bihar. But the BJP must have weighed its options well.

The BJP government has been facing the ire of Patidars [Patels] in Gujarat and had recently seen how Jats went on rampage in Haryana. Right now, the BJP has taken a decision in Gujarat, and it will take sometime before the picture gets clearer.

[Photo courtesy: The Indian Express]

Shocking: Havells' insensitive advertisement against constitutional provision of reservation for SC/ST/Backward communities in government jobs

Havells India Limited, a company that manufactures electrical goods including fans, has come up with a advertisement that attacks the reservation policy in India.

The ad is shocking because it is plain insensitive and reveals their absolute lack of awareness regarding Indian society.

The advertisement shows as if 'quota' is a privilege and ignores the fact that it is constitutional provision.

The lines used in the ad that term 'quota' as a short-cut 'seedhi' or ladder that gives 'privilege' which needs to be rejected by the new generation, is objectionable. On whose behalf, on which India's behalf, it [Havells] claims to speak? [LINK TO THE CONTROVERSIAL ADVERTISEMENT]


Aarakshan: Why reservation is necessary in jobs in India

The job quotas are a means to provide equal representation to sections of society that have remained under-privileged for centuries, who were denied education and who have faced biases of extreme kind for ages.

Either it is plain stupidity or height of biased attitude that Havells comes up with this advertisement. The section of Indian society that have been systematically denied any share in power, were given reservation after independence.

Even today, reservation is not properly implemented. Dalits, Tribals and Backward castes that number more than 75%, don't get representation in government jobs as per their numerical strength despite the reservations.

The policy is not implemented in many sectors and different ways have been found to block appointments, especially, through delaying recruitment and giving jobs on contract basis
in government institutions and universities.

Affirmative action required for justice, due representation

Doesn't Havells India Limited officials have any idea about the need for affirmative action and corrective measures that are taken in Western countries to ensure that there is equality and justice in the society--for example affirmative action to ensure participation for African-Americans in jobs.

The advertisement slyly and insensitively mocks at the disadvantaged sections of our society. The fact is there is extreme over-representation of Upper castes in top jobs, in government, in corporates and media.

Even among Muslims, the Upper Caste or Ashraaf, dominate the politics and are over-represented in jobs. The advertisement needs to be condemned. Already, people have begun writing to the company and have approached various fora to express their outrage over this 'Main pankha hoon: Hava badlegi' ad.

LINK TO THE CONTROVERSIAL ADVERTISEMENT

आरक्षण क्यूँ ज़रूरी है ?
आरक्षण की व्यवस्था संवैधानिक है, जिसका मक़सद पिछड़े तबकों को उनकी आबादी के हिसाब से नौकरी और सत्ता में भागीदारी देना है. ये समाजिक न्याय के लिये ज़रूरी है, ख़ास तौर पर उस मुल्क में जहां दलित, आदिवासी और पिछड़े सदियों से न सिर्फ तालीम से दूर रखे गए बल्कि उनको जातिगत भेदभाव भी झेलना पड़ा. सामाजिक तौर पर तो वह पिछड़े हैं ही. इसलिए रिज़र्वेशन कोई एहसान नहीं है, ये समाज की विषमता को ख़त्म करने के लिए ज़रूरी है. पश्चिमी देशों में भी 'अफरमेटिव एक्शन' लिया जाता है, निजी क्षेत्र में भी ध्यान रख जाता है कि किसी समूह का रिप्रेजेंटेशन सही नहीं है तो उसे बढ़ाया जाये.
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