Andhra plans to issue new Ordinance on Muslim quota

NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradeshgovernment will soon issue a fresh Ordinance on "reservation for the sociallyand educationally backward sections among Muslims", which will be a part orextension of the OBC quota. Sources say the new Ordinance will be onthe lines of similar reservation in place in Karnataka and Kerala. It willreplace a faultily-worded order already issued by the Andhra government, whichwould not have stood up to legal scrutiny. The original order wasstayed by the high court when it was challenged on the ground that theConstitution does not allow reservation on religious lines.Simultaneously, Congress is planning to discuss affirmative actionin industry with bodies such as CII and FICCI, with the government offeringfiscal incentives to companies that accept the idea.