Opp Leaving out Muslim Backwards in Caste Census Call Upsets Bihar OBC Muslim Forum

New Delhi, 15 Aug 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Opposition parties in Bihar using the phrase “OBC/ EBC Hindus” but leaving out OBC/ EBC Muslims in a joint letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have upset OBC Muslim forum.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar has objected to leaders of the RJD, Congress, CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) asking Nitish to meet PM Narendra Modi to set up an all-party committee for a caste census leaving out Muslims.

“If caste wise census is not done, economic and social progress of OBC/ EBC Hindus cannot be assessed and adequate policies could be determined,” said Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in a letter to Nitish on 30 July.

Ali, the president of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz —an apolitical forum taking up concerns of economically and socially backward Muslims – took exception to the use of OBC Hindus.

“We have strongly opposed content of Tejashwi’s letter, which was endorsed by his Grand Alliance allies. How can they use the phrase ‘OBC/ EBC Hindus’? How about counting the backward among Muslims? How can about 18 per cent of the population be left out from discourse of caste census?,” Ali was quoted by Indian Express.

“Grand Alliance should correct its position and the Bihar CM should also ask the PM for an inclusive caste census demand.”