Dont politicise 4% reservation

“Amit Shah and Kishan Reddy are Union Ministers and not just RSS and BJP functionaries. They must speak responsibly on sensitive issues,” said the Congress leaders.

The Congress leaders sought the intervention of the Election Commission of India to restrain Union Minister Kishan Reddy and all others from speaking on the 4% Muslim reservation issue as the matter was subjudice.

“It is the duty of one and all to show some respect to the Supreme Court and trust its wisdom on sensitive matters like the 4% Muslim quota which is related to lakhs of poor people,” he said.

The Congress leaders said that the 4% Muslim quota was implemented by the then Congress Govt in 2004-05 based on the recommendations of a Backward Classes Commission.

Initially, the quota was 5% and it was reduced to 4% following the directions of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to match the ceiling of 50% quota imposed by the Supreme Court as per the Indra Sawhney judgment.

They said that the 4% quota was given separately without affecting the reservation percentage of any other community. However, he said Union Minister Kishan Reddy has been trying to create an impression as if the 4% belonged to some other caste and was given to poor Muslims.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah too made similar comments against the 4% Muslim quota without even considering the fact that the issue was pending in the Supreme Court.