Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Sep 17: Playing the Muslim card well, the chief minister of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Mayawati wrote to Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh urging for granting reservation to Muslim community on Saturday.

With elections round the corner and Muslims constituting nearly 18 percent of the electorate, the move is aimed at earning their sympathy.

In her letter, CM Mayawati even has expressed her support to the central government to amend the constitution for making way for reservation to minorities especially Muslims. "Muslims are lagging behind in all aspects-education, employment etc. They should be given reservation benefit. Even Sachar committee report ahs pointed out these facts in its report," said Mayawati in the letter. She has urged the PM to treat this matter as important and accord importance.
 
Mayawati has a penchant for writing letters to the PM. She has penned letters for every account. Be it special quota from central government, package for Bundelkhand, security concern for Rahul Gandhi she had dispatched a letter to PM on every issue.

On the other hand, BJP has decried the Mayawati's letter demanding reservation to Muslims. Terming the step as anti national, state BJP chief Surya Pratap Shahi stated that such attempt will only give impetus to sepratist forces. "It is an attempt by her to attract Muslim votes by giving them lollypop of reservation. This is appeasement as reservation cannot be on basis of religious lines. Apex court has fixed the limit of reservation upto 50 percent," he said.

Whatever be the result, Mayawati's move is sure to given jitters to Samajwadi Party (SP) which projects itself as pro-Muslim.