The BSP supremo chose the timing of her letter in the last year of her present tenure when the tempo has picked up for the assembly elections in the state early next year. She has been in power since May 2007 and during this period, she did not care to draw the attention of the centre to her demand for reservation of Muslims at the central jobs in proportion to the population ratio but now when all reports are indicating big erosion in her support base, she is trying to emerge as a champion of the Muslim cause.

The Chief Minister in her letter to the PM has demanded that the Constitution should be amended to pave the way for the reservation of the Muslims and she has assured the centre of full support from her Party if such an amendment was brought about in the Parliament. BSP supremo also quoted Sachar Committee recommendations on providing adequate facilities for education for Muslims as also provision of job opportunities and measures to bring improvement in their living conditions.

Political observers opine that the Chief Minister’s letter was nothing but a belated exercise to win over Muslim votes which have a decisive role in more than one hundred constituencies out of 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly. Further, there is a tendency of herd voting by the minority community and that way, this group plays an important role in deciding the fate of the candidates in marginal constituencies.

The entire opposition is very critical of Mayawati for having played Muslim card when assembly elections are very close.

Samajwadi Party leader Ahmad Hasan said that although Mayawati government was in full majority even then it did nothing for social, economic and cultural upliftment of Muslims during last fours and half years. He alleged that during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime as many as 14 per cent were Muslims in police recruitment while the same percentage came down to only two per cent in Mayawati regime.

SP leader further disclosed that during 2011-12 central government released massive funds to the tune of Rs 35 crores for scholarship to Muslims but that too was not disbursed. SP national general secretary Mohd Azam khan said while on one hand Mayawati was demanding reservation for Muslims but on the other hand she did not allow admission of Muslim students to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Aligarh. He said that UP witnessed rise in atrocities on Muslim women in Mayawati regime.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also criticized Mayawati for having demanded reservation for Muslims. He said Chief Minister Mayawati wanted to use reservation carrot to win over Muslims to continue in the power. He said Mayawati should explain to masses as to what her government did for Muslims since May 2007 when her party assumed power in the state with full majority.

Several Muslim religious leaders have hailed the step of Mayawati to write letter to PM seeking reservation.

Naib Imam Edgah, Maulana Khadlid Rasheed complimented Mayawati for writing letter to PM. He further said that even recommendations of Rangnath Mishra Commission and Sachar Committee made it clear that reservation was required for economic, social and education upliftment of Muslims.

Senior advocate and legal adviser of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Muslim Reservation Movement Zafaryab Zilani said that he had noted the contents of the letter of CM to PM on reservation and matter would come up for discussion on October 28 meeting for acceptance of the demand. Secular political parties will also participate on the issue in that meeting.

Prominent Shia religious leader Kalbe Jawaad asked Chief Minister Mayawati to explain as to how many Muslims were given jobs in government services during her regime. Congress spokesman Subodh Srivastav said CM’s letter seeking reservation was not a serious issue it was just a political gimmick to get Muslim votes. (IPA)