Muslims harmed by Mandal order 

New Delhi: Syed Shahabuddin, MP as Sept. 28 described the new job reservation formula of the Centre as “patently unfair” to the minorities and said the net effect of the scheme for backward classes  and others would be that the Muslims in particular would be “pushed out” of the job opportunities and their share in Government sector would slip down to less than 1%, as against the present level of 2.5% The Muslims constituted 11.21% in the country’s population -and are thus the largest single minority- but the Mandal Commission report formula would give all religious minorities an 8.40% share if they were also treated as economically and educationally backward. The Hindus among the backwards would get 43.70% share in the scheme. The scheme was thus unjust to the religious minorities. (Hindustan Times Sept. 29).