Pics by: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jan 12: Students Islamic Organisation of India, Udupi district held a protest against Central Government’s decision to provide 10% reservation to economically backward upper castes.

Sadhath Khalifa, SIO national level advisory council addressing the protest said “With this constitution amendment, history was created. Discrimination is going on since ages. In the post colonial era it was a great task to meet these discriminations. In many countries reservation is not given, there preferential rights are given to the poor. There are many poverty alleviation programmes available in the country. These programmes must be strengthened. This programme doesn’t reach to the poor properly. This would help to uplift the upper class poor people.”

“90% teaching profession is dominated by upper class lecturers only. Caste system and reservation system must be eliminated. IIT, IIM’s are becoming agraharas, they are dominated by upper caste people,” he said.

Shyam Raj Bitthi, Dalit leader addressing the protest said, “Earlier upper caste people called reservation as alms, now they are ready to take alms. SC, ST’s have suffered a lot and they need reservation for their upliftment. Today also the situation is same. Modi dosent knows economics. No one who earns Rs 60,000 a month is a poor. He doesn’t know in which direction he is taking the nation. In Karnataka reservation is only beneficial to Brahmins. If they want reservation they need to do all the work we do. Around 10% reservation of the OBC is cut down to provide 10% reservations to upper castes,” he said.

Professor Cyril Mathias, Yaseen Kodibengre, secretary SIO Karnataka Afghan Hoode, president SIO Udupi District Mohammed Sharukh, secretary SIO Udupi district Suha Fathima and others were present for the protest.