MAGHAR/KHALILABAD — Peace Party workers, led by State Organisation Minister Azam Chaudhary, took a firm stand on Monday by delivering a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Deputy Magistrate. They demanded that Scheduled Castes within the Muslim community be granted reservation rights in education and government employment. This urgent appeal draws attention to a long-standing injustice faced by Indian Muslims, who have been denied constitutional protections despite official recommendations.
Azam Chaudhary, the State Organisation Minister, explained the roots of this discrimination: ‘During British rule until 1936, people from all religions in Scheduled Castes received reservation benefits. But after India gained independence, the Government of India, starting 10 August 1950, deliberately inserted the word “Hindu” into the reservation policies. This was a grave constitutional injustice that excluded Muslim Scheduled Castes from protections that were theirs by right.’
He pointed out that the injustice continues to this day despite clear evidence and recommendations. ‘The reports by the Justice Sachar Committee and Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee have both shown that the socio-economic condition of Muslim communities is worse than that of the Scheduled Castes. These committees specifically recommended the inclusion of Muslim Scheduled Castes in reservation policies and immediate government assistance. Unfortunately, these vital recommendations have been ignored for decades.’
The demonstration saw participation from several local leaders including Yasir Jam, Afroz Badal, Meenu Singh, Panchram Chauhan, Brijesh Nishad, Deepak Jaiswal, Obaidunnabi, Fuzail Rahmani, Mehndi Hasan, and Minhaj Malik, reflecting widespread support for the cause.
In Khalilabad, Peace Party activists staged a sit-in protest at the Collectorate, submitting a similar memorandum demanding the same rights for Muslim Scheduled Castes. Party leaders emphasised that, ‘The Government of India added “Hindu” to the reservation policy in 1950, thereby excluding Muslims. While Sikh Scheduled Castes were included in 1956 and Buddhist Scheduled Castes in 1990, Muslim Scheduled Castes remain neglected.’
The Justice Sachar Committee, formed in 2006, highlighted the poor socio-economic status of Indian Muslims, finding it worse than that of Scheduled Castes. Following this, the Ranganath Mishra Committee in 2007 also recommended that Muslim Scheduled Castes be included in reservation categories. ‘Yet, despite these clear findings, the Congress-led government at the time failed to act,’ said Afroz Badal, National General Secretary of the Peace Party.
Adding to the concerns, the BJP government’s Justice KG Val Krishnan Commission in 2023 failed to even address this crucial issue, further sidelining the Muslim community’s rightful claims.
Speaking at the Khalilabad protest, Azam Chaudhary said, ‘We will continue to press the government until Muslim Scheduled Castes receive the justice they deserve. Their socio-economic hardships cannot be ignored any longer.’
Joining him, Women District President Meenu Singh urged the authorities to ‘recognise the plight of Muslim Scheduled Castes without further delay’ and provide them equal rights, saying, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’
This ongoing denial of reservation rights highlights a pattern of exclusion that has left many Indian Muslims, especially those from Scheduled Castes, struggling for basic educational and employment opportunities that other groups receive as a matter of course.
Observers note that the government’s refusal to amend the reservation policy despite repeated committee reports amounts to a systematic sidelining of Muslim Scheduled Castes, contradicting the principles of equality and justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
