The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has said that the Congress delivered the promise of reservations to Muslims within 58 days of coming to power while Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is was just misleading the community with the promise even after three years of power.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Reddy challenged Mr. Rao to announce that TRS would not seek votes from Muslims and STs if he fails to implement the promised 12% reservation each for both the communities. He said Mr. Rao is trying to wash off his hands stating that the issue has to be decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Supreme Court.
Mr. Reddy doubted Mr. Rao’s sincerity saying that the promise to implement 12% reservations within four months of coming to power was made on April 19, 2014. As on today, the TRS government completed 3 years, 5 months and 9 days in power but not a single poor Muslim benefited from his promise. The Bill was passed in Telangana Assembly on April 16, 2017 and after 6 months and 25 days, Mr. Rao now says he will pressurise the Centre.
The TPCC chief wanted to know how will the Prime Minister agree when his party is opposed to reservations to Muslims and even Vice-President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, as the then the Union Minister, had openly stated that Mr. Modi is against Muslim reservations. “Is PM Modi separate from BJP? Should we trust KCR’s claim that PM Modi is in favour of Muslim quota or should we believe BJP leaders?” he asked.
Mr. Reddy said the Congress was sincere in its approach and more than 10 lakh poor Muslims benefited with 4% reservations implemented within 58 days of coming to power in 2004. The Chief Minister failed even after 40 months and is trying to divert the attention of Muslim community by visiting Jahangir Pir Dargah.
“He thinks Muslims are poor and innocent and could be cheated easily. But Congress party will not allow this to happen,” he said.
Walk for 12% reservation
The TPCC chief said the Congress party will organise a ‘Walk for 12% Muslim Reservation’ from Charminar to Gandhi Bhavan on the occasion of birth anniversary of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad on November 11. On the reaction on MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi showering praises on KCR in Assembly, he said the party would explain its stand on MIM soon.
