The State Congress party strongly condemned the TRS government for slashing the budget for minorities by over 30%, and requested the MIM to sever its ties with TRS.
In a statement here, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Minorities Department Chairman, Shaik Abdullah Sohail, said the budget for minorities’ welfare under the State Sector Schemes has been reduced from ₹1884.43 crore in 2018-19 to ₹ 1314.50 crore in 2019-20.
“A closer look at the department-wise cuts clearly shows a pattern wherein the TRS government targeted education and economic upliftment of minorities, especially the Muslims. Of the 30 heads of departments/schemes under minorities’ welfare, budget has been reduced by more than 50% for 17 schemes/HoDs,” he added.
The budget for minorities’ residential schools has been slashed by 36%, he said and asked how would the Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, justify reduction of ₹264.25 crore for residential schools?
No loans sanctioned
Similarly, the Congress leader said about 90% of the budget for pre-matric scholarships has been cut. He claimed that no loans were sanctioned to minorities in the TRS government’s first term when more than 1.5 lakh jobless minority youth had applied for loans in 2015-16.
However, the Congress party leader welcomed the cut in budget for Dawat-e-Iftar and Christmas feast.
“Minorities in the State are not interested in eating khajoor and Biryani for one day. We want jobs and loans,” he said.
