Thousands of Pasmanda (OBC and Dalit) Muslims will protest on Monday at Parliament against religious discrimination and suicide deaths of weavers. Janata Dal (U) MP Ali Anwar Ansari who is spearheading the movement has put three main demands – SC status to dalit Muslims and Christians, include Mewatis in ST category and loan waiver for weavers. Anwar said, “The meagre representation of Pasmanda Muslims in the Parliament is disturbing for the community.” Anwar also blamed the government for being non-serious in implementing the Ranganath Mishra Commission report. The treatment of OBC and Dalit Muslims should be on par with those in the Hindu community, he added. The Monday demonstration at the Parliament is aimed at raising all these issues, said Anwar. He also pointed out that while the farmers got loan waiver from the government, it is not the case with debt ridden weavers, tailors, saifees, telis, qureshis and small artisans of the country. Anwar also demanded reservation for Dalit and backward Muslims in the minority institutions. Anwar, a Rajya Sabha member from the JD (U), has been spearheading for the rights of Pasmanda muslims since 1998 when he formed All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz (Downtrodden Muslim Front). The movement of the dalit and backward Muslims could pose a direct challenge to the Muslim elites.