AnyTime News 
Demands for Caste Census and Article 341 Amendments Spark Fresh Political Controversy in UP
By Pooja Shrivastava, Anytime News Network
The national workshop organized by the ‘All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz’ at the Lucknow Press Club today sparked criticism as the self-proclaimed ‘non-political’ social outfit openly ventured into aggressive ticket-seeking and divisive reservation politics. Despite claiming a nationalist and social reform agenda, the core discussions of the workshop revolved tightly around exploiting caste lines within the minority community for political gains.
Led by National President Pervez Hanif and CEO Muhammad Yunus, the organization aggressively demanded a share in the legislative setup, targeting specific political parties. In a direct attempt to influence electoral dynamics, the Mahaz issued a controversial demand to the BJP, asking for dedicated candidate tickets in crucial constituencies including Moradabad Dehat, Kairana, Nagina, Rampur Swar, and Pilybhit Sadar. This blatant lobbying for political power has drawn sharp criticism from analysts who view it as opportunistic bargaining disguised as social justice for the sub-castes.
Furthermore, the Mahaz raised sensitive and polarizing demands, urging the Central Government to remove religious restrictions from Article 341 and to enforce a separate socio-economic caste census for Pasmanda Muslims. Critics argue that pushing for sub-categorization within OBC quotas and demanding a separate ‘Pasmanda Commission’ will only fragment the existing social fabric and complicate policy frameworks. By demanding a 25% reservation in minority institutions and altering school curricula under the guise of RTE, the organization is being accused of fueling identity politics. While the leaders claimed to distance themselves from religious extremism, the entire blueprint of the workshop, centered on dynamic political shifting and targeted demographic pressure, tells a completely different, highly politicized story.
