We need a caste census of Muslim community too, says Pasmanda community leader Khalid Anis Ansari

Much of the funds meant for minority Muslims is cornered by elite Muslims as they have educational and social capital required to access them, says Khalid Anis Ansari

Demands are not just emanating from political parties in various States but also from organisations connected with the Pasmanda Muslim community, with the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz raising the demand that not just Hindus, all religions in India be counted according to their caste category. The Mahaz, headed by Ali Anwar Ansari, former Rajya Sabha MP, has announced an awareness campaign for this demand as well. Khalid Anis Ansari, scholar with the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), and active in the Pasmanda community advocacy space, says the counting of castes among Muslims should be included in any kind of format for a caste census that is adopted by the government. Backward class Muslims can avail themselves of reservations only in the OBC category.