Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Reservation issue

I welcome the Tamil Nadu government’s legislation providing for reservation to Backward Class Muslims and Backward Class Christians in education and employment. All sections of society should be represented proportionately in the government. To achieve this end, it is important to provide reservation for those sections that are not adequately represented.

Those who oppose reservation in any form are the ones who enjoy educational facilities in government-run and aided institutions and hold government jobs in large numbers — disproportionate to their population.

K.J. Nithianandam,

Our reservation policy has hitherto determined backwardness only on the basis of caste. Since caste is peculiar only to the Hindu religion, how can this be the basis for identifying backward sections among Christians and Muslims?

C.S. Ramalingam,

While I admire Mr. Karunanidhi for his consistent efforts as a champion of the rationalist movement, I feel that reservation for Backward Class Muslims and Backward Class Christians is more of a vote bank policy than a social reform. The minorities, particularly Christians, run their own educational institutions and administer them autonomously. If they want to enjoy reservation, they must agree to implement the existing reservation policy in all their institutions. Otherwise, they will enjoy dual benefit which is violative of the fundamental rights of other groups.

C. Kannapiran,

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