– Raheem Khan
Jaipur, June 2: On Saturday, a press conference was organized by the entire OBC Muslim community in Jaipur, with provincial officials from various sub-communities such as Teli, Mansoori, Pinjara, Deshwali, Gaddi, Bhisti, Kasai, Kayamkhani, Ansari, and Qureshi in attendance. Key participants included Abdul Latif Arko, Naeem Qureshi, Sikandar Niazi, Imamuddin, Rafiq Garnet, Sajid, Hanif Mansoori, Ikram Tigala, and Shakeelur Rahman.
Abdul Latif Arko, President of the Provincial Muslim Teli Mahapanchayat, stated that the press conference aimed to draw attention to two major issues affecting the Muslim community.
First, he addressed the recent statement by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan regarding a review of religion-based OBC reservation. Arko clarified that the reservation for Muslim OBC castes is not religion-based but rather based on ancestral occupation and their socially and economically backward status, similar to the broader OBC category. He emphasized that there is no separate sub-quota for Muslims; opportunities are merit-based among all OBC candidates. He argued that it would be unfair to review the reservation, as it was granted after detailed investigation by the Rajasthan government.
Secondly, Arko raised concerns about the Hindi film ‘Hum Do Hamare Barah’, which is trending on social media. He noted that the trailer portrays the Muslim population as rapidly increasing and Muslim women as oppressed, depicting baseless and harmful stereotypes. Arko pointed out that government data shows a 2% decrease in the Muslim birth rate. He also highlighted that the film misinterprets verses from the Holy Quran, which he said is unacceptable to the Muslim community.
Following detailed discussions, the press conference passed a unanimous resolution, urging the Rajasthan Government and the Central Government to address these issues:
- Reservation Review: The Rajasthan Government is requested not to interfere with the reservation of OBC Muslim communities. Any changes could lead to widespread protests across the state by the entire OBC community.
- Film Content: The Central Government is urged to allow the telecast of ‘Hum Do Hamare Barah’ only after removing the objectionable scenes. Failure to do so may result in public protests nationwide.
- Regulation of Films: The Central Government is also advised to regulate films targeting particular religions to prevent the spread of Islamophobia, which is detrimental to the country’s inclusive society.
The community emphasized that addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining social harmony and protecting the rights and sentiments of the Muslim OBC community.
