Decode Politics: Tejashwi writes to Modi on ‘Muslims getting quota in Gujarat’. A fact check

IN THE war of words over reservations, both the INDIA bloc and BJP have accused each other of trying to undermine the quotas for SC/STs and OBCs. While the INDIA parties say a returning Narendra Modi government would “change” the Constitution and thus target reservations, the BJP has said it is INDIA parties which intend to take reservations away from SC/STs and OBCs and give the same to minorities.

In several election speeches, Prime Minister Modi has said: “Till the time I am alive, I will not let them (INDIA) give reservations meant for Dalits, SCs, STs and OBCs to Muslims in the name of religion.”

The BJP has got fresh ammunition after the Calcutta High Court last week struck down a series of orders passed by the West Bengal government between March 2010 and May 2012 adding 77 communities, 75 of them Muslim, to the OBC list, saying religion had been the “sole” basis for the same.

On May 26, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wrote to PM Modi, referring to the quotas provided to Muslims under the OBC category in Gujarat, a state ruled for a long time by the BJP and by Modi himself from 2001 to 2014. “Perhaps you are not aware (of this, though)… you served as CM for 13 years,” Tejashwi wrote, asking Modi not to “spread confusion and hatred”.

As per the website of the Gujarat government’s Social Justice and Empowerment Department, 39 Muslim communities enjoy OBC reservation in the state under the Central list. These include: Bafan, Dafer, Fakir, Gadhai, Galiara, Ghanchi, Hingora, Julaya, Garana, Tariya, Tari, Ansari, Jat, Khatki or Kasai, Chamadia Khatki, Halari Khatki, Mir, Dhandhi, Landha, Mirasi, Majothhi Kumbhar, Darbar or Darban Majothhi, Makrani, Matva Kureshi, Miyana, Pinjara, Ghanchi-Pinjara, Mansuri-Pinjara, Sandhi, Sipai,