Creamy layer must in Muslim reservation: Union Minister

Hyderabad, Apr 27 (UNI) Union Water Resources Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz today said the 'creamy layer' should be taken into account in Muslim reservation for providing reservation benefits to the poor.

Participating in a symposium on 'peace and justice for the development of minorities' organised by the Forum for Equity and Justice here, he said all 15 crore Muslims in the country were not poor. Bureacrats and peoples' representatives like MLAs and MPs should be brought under the creamy layer, who did not need reservation for their children in education and employment.

Stating that reservation benefits should reach poor Muslims, he said 'we should create a situation of hope among the poor'.

Suggesting that the Andhra Pradesh government constitute a committee on Muslim reservation and solve the problem pending in the Supreme Court, he said the government should work hard to implement reservations as the Karnataka government had convinced the court on providing reservation to poor Muslims in the state.

Andhra Pradesh High Court recently struck down five per cent reservation for Muslims in the state.

Stating that a Bill on Prevention of Communal Riots would be introduced in the next Parliament session and passed, Mr Soz said punishment of culprits and compensation to victims would be made uniform in the country with this Act.

He said District Magistrates and police officials would be held responsible for communal riots under the Act.

Hyderabad MP and All India Mujlis-e-Ittehadul Musleemin (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi and other Muslim leaders were also present.

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