Manipur Muslims demand reservation

Imphal, Sep 1 (UNI) The All Manipur Muslim Students' Organisation (AMMSO) has demanded special reservation policy for Muslims in government educational institutes and government jobs.

Addressing a press conference here today AMMSO representative Mohd Anuwar Hussain said Muslims were an economically and socially backward community.

''Muslims in Manipur, known as Meitei Pangal, should be helped by the government by providing them reservations in employment and educational institutes,'' he demanded.

Hussain said a team of AMMSO went to New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to President APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi.

The AMMSO has been on a stir and its members were wearing black badges since August 18. Now Muslim students will stage sit-in protest, block national highways, boycott the Secular Progressive Front government led by Okram Ibobi Singh and the coming general Assembly elections, he said.

An indefinite strike will also be called in Manipur, he warned.

Officials said the Manipur assembly passed the OBC Bill no. 12 of 2006 on March 19 and a report was awaited on the fixing of percentage for reservation.

The AMMSO, however, contended that the government was playing 'delaying tactics' and appealed to all to support the cause of the Muslims. They also demanded ten per cent reservation.

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