Hyderabad: A delegation of Telangana Muslim Journalists Forum on Friday urged the Telangana State Backward Classes Commission to recommend increase in quota in jobs and education for Muslims community.
Forum’s delegation comprised of senior journalists including Faiz Mohammed Asghar, M.A. Majid, Fazil Hussain Pervez, Mohammed Riyaz Ahmed, Taher Roomani, Shoukat Ali, S.S. Hussaini Iqbal, Mohammed Nayeem and Shaik Ahmed Ali.
“Muslims of Telangana are backward in all sphere of life, including journalism. Since a majority of Muslim journalists are associated with Urdu media, both in print and electronic,
their status is not different from the Urdu language itself which is in the state of neglect.
Therefore, as Muslim journalists, we request the BC Commission to recommend not only enhancement of the quota for already identified backward groups of Muslims, but also for those who were left out of reservation net in the past,” the Forum said in its representation.
The journalists pointed out that the continuous neglect of Urdu language had a negative impact on Muslims journalists, who were associated with Urdu journalism.
The 4% Muslim quota, which was extended to 14 socially and educationally backward groups, had no impact on the lives of Urdu journalists.
Complaining of injustice and discrimination, they said that the practice of sending official press notes in Urdu language has been stopped by all government departments.
They said there was no Urdu knowing officials even in the Chief Minister’s Office. The CMO is also not getting the clippings of Urdu newspapers.
“This issue is of high concern as Urdu newspapers and channels primarily report about the problems being faced by the Muslim community in Telangana State. Therefore, neglecting Urdu media is nothing but ignoring the entire Muslim community,” the Forum said.
The Forum members also pointed out several loopholes in the Sudhir Commission’s report in addressing the Muslim reservation issue and feared that it might not withstand the legal scrutiny in the Supreme Court, whose Constitutional Bench, was hearing the case on 4% Muslim quota.
They said that the government should take measures to safeguard the existing 4% Muslim quota and also enhance the quota to 12%, as recommended by the Sudhir Commission.
They said that the Sudhir Commission should have studied the impact of 4% reservation on identified 14 backward groups of Muslims and it should have covered the possibility of giving reservation to groups like Syeds, Pathans, Arabs and other communities.
They also stressed on giving 33% reservation for Muslim women.
Stating that there was good response to the residential schools stated by the State Government, they suggested that such schools, especially for the Muslim girls, should be established at Mandal levels.
They said that 12% Muslim quota should be implemented in all housing schemes in the State and Central Government.
The Muslim journalists requested the BC Commission to tour all 31 districts of Telangana and hold public hearings for longer periods so as to elicit views on enhancement of Muslim reservation in the State.
They said effective publicity should be given to the public hearings of BC Commission to ensure good participation.
Meanwhile, the Forum has appealed to the Muslim community to make representation in large numbers with the BC Commission which would continue its public hearing on Saturday. (INN)