Indian Government Sets New OBC Sub-Quota In Bid For Muslim Votes

Over the last ten days, the press in India has been filled with commentary on the Indian government's December 22 decision (CNN) to create a 4.5% sub-quota for economically and socially disadvantaged non-Hindu minorities-- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians-- within the existing 27% Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota. The quotas create access to government jobs and education. Many more Muslims are designated as OBCs than are members of the other non-Hindu religious minorities.  In December 2009, the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities submitted a report to Parliament recommending a 10% quota for Muslims, along with 5% for other minorities. (See prior posting.) The government's December decision to set a new sub-quota is widely seen as an attempt to attract Muslim votes in legislative assembly elections to be held in February in the state of Uttar Pradesh. An example of reaction to the new quota, however, is a Jan. 1 article from the Times of India that contends the new rules will hurt Muslims.  It quotes the founder of the All-India Muslim OBC Organisation, who says:

Besides pitting minority OBCs against Hindu OBCs, the educationally and socially weak Muslim OBCs will not be able to compete with Sikh and Christian OBCs in the race to grab jobs and admissions. The advantage of being part of the general OBCs is that you remain invisible and get some benefits. But here, the competition will be tougher as the share has reduced.