Telangana Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir asks BJP leaders to pay heed to SC remarks on 4% Muslim quota

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday conveyed its displeasure over public functionaries making remarks on the scrapping of the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in Karnataka – where the state Legislative Assembly election was held on Wednesday – after it was told that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was making such statements though the matter was sub judice.

Shabbir highlighted that BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have been making provocative statements and vowing to scrap the 4 per cent OBC Muslim quota implemented in the two states. He said, “They label it ‘unconstitutional’ while overlooking the fact that the 4 per cent Muslim reservation case is pending before the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court.”

The Congress leader added that the 4 per cent quota in jobs and education for socially and economically backward Muslims under the BC-E category is being implemented based on the stay granted by the Supreme Court. Consequently, he advised BJP leaders to recognise that any remarks against the ongoing quota could be considered open contempt of the Supreme Court.

Shabbir recalled that Union minister Shah made controversial remarks against Muslim quota during his visit to Hyderabad on April 23. “We immediately pointed out that such comments from Amit Shah and other BJP leaders amount to contempt of court and could be seen as an attempt to influence the case, which is to be heard by a five-member Constitutional Bench of the apex court. The Supreme Court’s observations in a similar case related to Karnataka have vindicated our stance,” he said.

He reiterated that the 4 per cent Muslim reservation introduced by the previous Congress government was not based on religion. It encompasses only 14 economically and socially backward groups among Muslims, identified by a Backward Classes Commission according to procedures laid down by the Constitution. A separate Bill was passed in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly to include the identified 14 groups under BC-E. Moreover, the 4 per cent Muslim reservation was granted separately without affecting the quota of other communities. However, Shabbir alleged that BJP leaders have been attempting to distort the facts to mislead the public and incite communal hatred.

As a party in the 4 per cent Muslim quota case in the Supreme Court, Shabbir announced that he would file a contempt of court case against BJP leaders or others who comment on the matter which was sub judice. He urged all parties to wait for the Supreme Court’s final judgment before making any remarks and allow the court to determine the validity of the quota.