March 15, 2002

LOK SABHA

‘10’

MUSLIMS IN KARNATAKA AND KERALA TO BE IN THE CENTRAL LIST OF OBCs

   Government has accepted the recommendations of the National Commission for Backward Classes after due consideration to include Muslims in the states of Karnataka and Kerala in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Stating this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya said that of the National Commission for Backward Classes had received representations for inclusion of Muslims in the Central List of OBCs from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tripura and the union territory of Pondicherry. He said that on examination of the representations, the Commission recommended that the requests for inclusion of Muslims from Goa, Tripura and Pondicherry in the Central List of OBCs may be rejected while those from Karnataka and Kerala may be accepted.