Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar fears that caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s proximity with the BJP may pose a huge threat to the continuation of 4% reservation for Muslims.
If TRS comes to power, the 4% quota for Muslims, introduced by the Congress, may go, he said while addressing a meeting on ‘National Integration’ to mark the 130th birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister, Moulana Abul Kalaam Azad.
He reminded that the Congress government implemented 5% reservation in jobs and education for Muslims within 58 days after coming to power in 2004. Although it was reduced to 4% on High Court’s direction, Congress took steps for smooth implementation of Muslim reservation till the final judgment of the Supreme Court.
Mr. Reddy alleged that Mr. Chandrashekar Rao had duped the Muslim community by promising 12% reservation, but was never serious about it. When the BJP government rejected the proposal, Mr. Rao did not approach the Supreme Court and never even raised it with Mr. Modi despite meeting the latter on multiple occasions to discuss his political agenda.
Other incidents that unmasked his disinterest in Muslims were the TRS government’s failure in challenging the verdict of NIA Court on Mecca Masjid blast case wherein all the accused were acquitted and the report on Alair encounter, where five Muslim youth were shot dead, which is yet to be made public.
Mr. Reddy also slammed the MIM president, Asaduddin Owaisi, for supporting Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and being an ‘agent’ of Mr. Modi. He reiterated that voting for TRS or MIM would be like voting for the BJP.
Strong foundation
Recalling the services rendered by Moulana Azad for the country, the TPCC chief said as India’s first Education Minister, Moulana Azad laid a strong foundation that eventually led to the establishment of institutions like IIMs and IITs. He said Moulana Azad was a true secular leader till his last breath and fought against all communal forces.
The meeting was also addressed by All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson and former Union Minister Rajiv Shukla, Rajya Sabha member Syed Naseer Hussain, student leader Kanhaiyya Kumar, AICC Minorities Department Chairman Nadeem Jaweed, AICC secretary Saleem Ahmed, TPCC Minorities Department Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail and other senior leaders of the party.
