Click to play videoNew Delhi: At least three Central ministers have demanded that private companies provide reservation to minorities. Minorities Affairs Minister A R Anutlay even wants action against companies if they failed to do so.
"Are these people here only to make money? They have social responsibilities as well. If they don’t do as the government asks them then strict action should be taken," Antulay told CNN-IBN.
"The private companies are not on their own; they have to get permission from the Government of India or the state governments. If the Government is clean and clear in its mind and hard, and if it really wants to do it can do I am certain it will be implemented," said Antulay.
Antulay is not alone—a growing list of ministers is lobbying for reservations for minorities in the private sector. Chemical, Fertilisers and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who enraged the pharma sector by slashing down drug prices, also supports reservation for minorities in the private sector.
"The Sachar committee has said that Muslims are in a worse condition than Dalits. You should separate those Muslims who are poor from those who are not. Then you should include them (for quota)," he said.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav too supported the idea. "Of course there should be quota. Just like everyone else, minorities should also be given," said Yadav.
Implement reservation for minorities though will be difficult, as with the latest reservation proposals the ceiling of 50 per cent has been reached. There are some who feel that within the OBC quota of 15 per cent section could be left for Muslims. But that step too doesn’t go down well with those who look at themselves as champions of Muslims and OBCs.
The ministers’ statements come a day before the Prime Minister meets business leaders to finalise a plan on providing representation to Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the private sector.
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