4% Muslim Quota Will Go If TRS Retains Power: Uttam

Hyderabad, November 11: TPCC President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar feared that the ongoing 4% Muslim quota in the State would go if TRS retains power in next elections.

Addressing a meeting on ‘National Integration’ to mark 130th birth anniversary of Moulana Abul Kalaam Azad here on Sunday, Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged TRS party’s deceitful attitude towards Muslims and caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s proximity with BJP pose a big threat to the continuation of 4% Muslim reservation. He pointed out that the TRS Government did not made any efforts to effectively contest the 4% BC-E Muslim quota case going on in the Supreme Court. He said that the then Congress Government implemented 5% reservation in jobs and education for Muslims within 58 days after coming to power in 2004. Although the quota was reduced to 4% on High Court’s direction, the previous government took sufficient steps to ensure that the implementation of 4% Muslim reservation continue till final judgement of Supreme Court.

He feared that the TRS party, if voted to power again, might not defend the 4% Muslim quota in Supreme Court to please Prime Minister Narender Modi as it wants to go with BJP in Lok Sabha elections.

Uttam Kumar Reddy accused KCR of duping the Muslim community on the promise of 12% reservation. He said KCR was never serious in giving 12% Muslim quota and therefore, he dragged the issue for four-and-a-half years on one pretext or the other although the Congress party supported the Muslim Reservation Bill in Assembly and Council. “BJP Government has rejected the Bill which was meant to enhance the Muslim quota from 4% to 12% in February this year and refused to send it to the President of India for his nod. TRS Government neither held any protest against the BJP Government nor approached the Supreme Court against this rejection. KCR met PM Modi on multiple occasions to discuss his political agenda. But he never pressurised the Centre for clearance of Bill. Today he is not even talking about 12% Muslim reservation. KCR apparently feels that he could easily get away after cheating the entire Muslim and he won’t be questioned by anyone,” he said.

The TPCC chief also slammed the TRS Government for not appealing in a higher court against the verdict of NIA Court on Mecca Masjid blast case wherein all accused have been acquitted. He said the judgment was delivered in April this year while KCR was in power till 6th September when he dissolved the Assembly. He asked as to what had prevented TRS Government from filing an appeal in higher court against the verdict. Similarly, he said that the report on Alair encounter in which five Muslim youth were shot dead while they were being brought to a court in Hyderabad was yet to be prepared. “These instances have unmasked KCR. His hatred towards Muslims and proximity towards Sangh Parivar has been proved repeatedly. He has openly the supported the BJP in the elections for President and Vice President of India and TRS MPs supported Modi Govt by not taking part in voting during No Confidence Motion moved by the TDP,” he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy has also accused the TRS and KCR of backing Hindutva parties to interfere in Muslim Personal Law and Shariah. He said TRS supported the BJP in the Parliament when Triple Talaq Bill was introduced. However, the Congress party prevented its legislation by blocking the Bill in Rajya Sabha. “KCR has cheated the Muslims during the last four-and-a-years by wearing a mask of secularism. If TRS wins next Assembly election, then KCR himself will take out the mask to have an alliance with the BJP in Lok Sabha elections,” he said while adding that the time has come for the Muslim community to teach a fitting lesson to KCR for his lies, cheating and deception.

The TPCC Chief expressed concern over BJP Government targeting minorities across the country in various forms. By said attacks on minorities for what they eat, what they wear and whom they marry was nothing but a direct attack on their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He expressed fear the BJP would change the Constitution if it retains power. Therefore, he appealed the people to vote out both TRS and BJP in next elections. He also slammed MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for supporting KCR, who is behaving like a ‘chamcha’ and agent of PM Modi. He reiterated that voting for TRS or MIM would be like voting for BJP. “Only Congress party had the strength and will to defeat PM Modi and BJP at the Centre. Therefore, the security and welfare of minorities can be ensured only if Rahul Gandhi becomes the next Prime Minister,” he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also listed out other failures of TRS Government towards minorities. He said not even 50% of the allocated budget was spent on minorities’ welfare. He said only Rs. 3,000 crore were spent in the last four-and-a-half years on minorities’ welfare which was not even 0.5% of Rs. 6.75 lakh crore, the total budget of Telangana State. He promised that the Congress party, if voted to power in next elections, would introduce a Sub-Plan for minorities and about 12% of total budget would be allocated for their welfare. He said TRS had no moral right to seek votes from Muslim community.

Recalling the services rendered by Moulana Azad for the nation, the TPCC chief said that Moulana Azad had played a key role in freedom struggle and also opposed the two-nation theory. As the country’s first education minister, Moulana Azad had laid a strong foundation which eventually led to 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. He reminded that Moulana Azad became the President of Indian National Congress in 1923 at the age of just 35 years.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party strictly follows the ideals of Moulana Azad and does not believe in any kind of interference in any Personal Laws or religious matters. He said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi advocates respect for all religions and works for maintaining communal harmony across the country.

The meeting was also addressed by 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 Dept Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail and other senior leaders. (Maxim News)