The Karnataka Sunni Ulema Board has decided to legally fight the government decision to withdraw the 4 per cent reservation offered to Muslims under the 2B category, Karnataka State Board of Auqaf chairman Shafi Saadi said Saturday, adding that the community might even have to hit the streets demanding the BJP government reinstate the reservation. Speaking to reporters, he said the decision was taken following a meeting held by ulema (religious leaders) to discuss the government move. The state cabinet on Monday decided to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim quota and distribute it between Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the dominant communities of the state. “The state government is aware that Muslims are very backward. As per the findings of the Sachar Committee and the Mandal Commission, they are more backward than even SC/ST communities,” he said. “I am confident that the state government will withdraw the decision,” he said, adding that scrapping the reservation was not legally valid. If grouped under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Muslims will have to struggle to get their rightful share in reservation, he said. “We might even have to hit the streets over the issue,” he said. Saadi said that various commissions set up in the state to assess the Muslims’ economic and social status had even recommended hiking the quantum of reservation owing to their backwardness. As per the 2011 census report, Muslims form around 13 per cent of the state population. Saadi, who was appointed by the government to head the board, said he had spoken to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy about the issue. “I will also speak to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other government representatives to express the concerns aired by leaders of the community,” he added.
