Quota sought for Shias in govt jobs, education

Mumbai, Nov 26: The All India Shia Personal Law Board today sought reservations for Shias in government jobs and education, and said that they are a ''minority within a minority''.

Speaking at their second annual session, president of the Board Maulana Mirza Mohammed Athar said, ''Last year we met the President and the Prime Minister to apprise them of the fact that Shia representation in law-making bodies and government jobs is negligible, and therefore merits some corrective measures. But nothing has been done in this regard till now.'' In jobs, Muslim share is very less but Shias' share is even worse, he said, adding whatever government gives to the Muslim minority, Shias remain deprived of even that.

A prominent member of the Shia community, former MP and leading builder Akhtar Hasan Rizvi said, ''We are a minority within a minority and we should be given our political place. Reservation ought to be provided to us, not only in jobs but also in education.'' Board members also demanded that the subsidy which was earlier given to pilgrims headed to Iraq, Iran and Syria, but was curtailed 20 years ago, should now be restored on the pattern of the Haj subsidy.

The felt that simply giving representations to the Shias in the Central Haj Committee was not sufficient and they should also be provided with the facility to perform the rituals of the Haj according to the 'Fiqah-e-Jafaria' (Shia style ritual).

The Board condemned all the terrorists responsible for the attacks at the Sankat Mochan Mandir in Varanasi, Mumbai train blasts and the blasts at Malegaon. Under the garb of Islam, such activities recommended by ''orthodox and zealot mullas, can never be called Islamic activity or Jihad'', they stated in their resolution.

However, to associate such activities with any particular community was wrong, they pointed out.

The Board also adopted a model 'nikhanama' (marriage contract) that not only provides for protection of women from domestic violence, but also ensures justice and security for women in case of a divorce.

UNI