The Congress MLCs have strongly criticised the TRS Government for delay in fulfilling the promise of giving 12% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education.
Participating in the discussion on the subject during Question Hour in Telangana Legislative Council here on Monday, Congress deputy leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir pointed out the mistakes in budget speech wherein Muslim population has been quoted as 11 per cent. He alleged that the mistake was done deliberately as it was part of a larger conspiracy to deny Muslim reservation. As per 2001 Census, Muslims constitute 12.4% of the total population in Telangana. However, by quoting it as 11%, the TRS Government wants to create legal hurdles in the process of reservation.
Shabbir Ali also listed out the legal hurdles faced by the government faced in giving four per cent reservation. Alleging that TRS Government took no steps to provide 12% reservation in the last five months, he demanded that the process of giving reservation be expedited.
Responding to Shabbir Ali’s objection, Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali admitted that the Muslim population percentage mentioned in the budget speech was wrong. However, he described it as typographical error and said corrections would be carried out on immediate basis. He also assured Shabbir Ali that all legal precautions would be taken to ensure that the policy is not hit by roadblocks.
“It is proposed to formulate a strategy for social and economic development of minorities in the State of Telangana. In this regard, a Commission will be constituted to study the social, educational and economic conditions of the minorities and come up with an strategy which include providing reservation in professional education and government jobs for their all round development,” Mahmood Ali said earlier while replying to a question raised by MLC MS Prabhakar Rao during Question Hour.
“The constitution of commission is meant to conduct a scientific survey and to come up with a viable solution within the ambit of constitution and Supreme Court judgments thereon inter alia the modus operandi in other States where such provisions are made. Further action will be taken on receiving the report of the Commission,” said the Deputy CM.
Mahmood Ali also assured that the new Muslim reservation policy would include more number of socially and economically backward groups of Muslim community.
Other Congress MLCs have also participated in the discussion. (INN)