Muslims will benefit from constitutional status to OBC commission: Naqvi

Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), April 17 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the Narendra Modi government's decision to provide constitutional status to Backward Classes Commission will also benefit a large section of the Muslim community.

Addressing a BJP workers' convention here, Naqvi said that the constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (now renamed the National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) will ensure that various sections of Muslim community such as 'kahar', 'kewat-mallah', 'kumhar', 'kunjda', 'gujjar', 'ghosi', 'jogi', 'mali', 'teli', 'natt', 'fakir', 'hajjam', 'dhobi' etc will become constitutionally eligible to get benefits of various welfare programmes and schemes.

"This historic decision will ensure justice for all sections of the society," he said.

Naqvi said that with a constitutional status, the National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes will become as powerful as National Commission for Schedule Castes and National Commission for Schedule Tribes.

"It can now effectively work towards the welfare and uplift of people who come from socially and educationally backward classes. This Commission will also discharge other functions related to the protection, welfare and development of backward classes and empower them by utilising the inherent powers of Articles 16(4) and 15(4) of Constitution," he added.

Naqvi accused oppsoition parties of stalling the Bill in Rajya Sabha.

"The Lok Sabha passed the Bill to grant constitutional status to Backward Classes Commission, but it was stalled in the Rajya Sabha by the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and some other opposition parties.

"They have blocked a major legislation aimed at protecting rights of the backward classes," he said.

Articles 16(4) and 15(4) of Constitution empower states to provide for reservation to backward classes in jobs and make special provision for their advancement.