'Minority sub-quota to double job opportunities for Muslims'

Jaipur, May 6: The Centre's move to carve out 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities would double the job opportunities for Muslim community, Union Law Minister

today said here. "The 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities would increase two fold the job opportunities for Muslims, who must get their rightful share in the fruits of development," Khurshid said.

The demand for reservation in employment and education for Muslims was not a "bargaining tactic", but was a struggle for justice, said the minority affairs minister. The share is being given to the minority community in several stages in view of the limits laid down by judicial pronouncements of the Supreme Court, Khurshid said.

The Union Minister was addressing an open session on the concluding day of the 9th All India Muslim Educational Conference. Experts from different fields addressed the session devoted to the theme, "Spotlighting the problems faced by Muslims in educational and socio-economic fields and solutions." Khurshid said the apex court has put a ceiling of 50 per cent on the reservation, beyond which the provision could not be made for any class or community.

In another session, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced to set up a committee to look into the demands, including that of reservation in the state to Muslims like Centre, of the organisers of the conference. He also announced to open 5 new industrial training institutes in minority populated areas of the state. Presently, there are 10 such institutes in minority populated areas.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh also said that government of Rajasthan should take a decision to implement reservation for Muslims on pattern of the Centre. He praised functioning of the state government and its decision for CBI probe and action against the then SP and collector in Gopalgarh firing incident of last year.

Singh said that action against all the accused should be taken to ensure justice to the victims of the Gopalgarh incident. A violent clash between Gujjars and Meo Muslims had occurred on September 14 last year and police had allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing. Ten persons were killed in the violence and two dozen injured.

PTI