This Article is From Jun 07, 2013

Universities for minorities: Eye on Muslim vote?

New Delhi: The central government has announced its plan to set up five Central Universities where 50 per cent seats will be reserved for students from the minority communities.

Not too long ago, the government's move to reserve 4.5 per cent seats in the OBC category for Muslims first got a thumbs down from the Election Commission just ahead of the UP elections, and then the Supreme Court said there can't be reservations on the basis of religion.

While the Centre tries to convince the top court on the issue of reservation, the political significance of both these attempts are not lost on anyone.

Here's why. The 2001 census says that of the 18 per cent that makes up all the minorities in the country, Muslims account for over 13 per cent. Though the government says its merely acting on an old proposal of 2008, the timing of the move coming as it does with just a year to go before the general elections has already raised questions.

"The Congress only believes in politics of appeasement and rhetoric. They are not interested in implementing anything. So even if they say they want reservation, people of India also don't believe or trust them that they will be delivering this now or in the future," said Captain Abhimanyu, BJP spokesperson.

For its part, the government says the decision follows the recommendations of the Sukhdeo Thorat committee to set up universities in "areas predominantly inhabited by minority communities" so more can join higher education streams. It's a decision that's in line with the recommendations of the Sachar Committee that said over six years ago that Muslims are worse off than even Scheduled Castes in terms of education. The universities are planned in the states of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

Delhi's Jamia Milia University received minority status in 2011, though demands to give similar status to the Aligarh Muslim University are stuck in court.

Once set up, they will come under the Ministry of Minority Affairs that is currently preparing a cabinet note and will take it up with the HRD Ministry next week.

Speaking to NDTV, Minister for Minority Affairs, K Rehman Khan fought of the allegations of appeasement. "If some people want to make allegations they are free to do so, but just because there are elections doesn't mean the government will stop working. We are committed to our initiatives and will implement them," he said.

So is this a carrot dangling exercise ahead of the next general elections or a genuine attempt to uplift minorities? The proposal still has a long way to go and will need the approval of Parliament. But with it coming in the last year of this government's term there no doubt, whatever the intentions, politics won't be far from it.

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