Hyderabad, March 25: Minorities Welfare and Company Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed Wednesday said the Centre would intervene and help out the Andhra Pradesh Government on four per cent reservations to Muslims, if the Supreme Court directed it to do so.
Speaking to reporters after attending a book release function, the minister said that so far the AP State Government alone was dealing with the matter.
The Supreme Court was looking into it, and if the apex court so directed the Centre, it would intervene and help the State. On the implementation of the Ranganath Misra Commission report, which recommended reservations for Muslims, the minister said the government was considering its implementation.
Earlier, participating in the release of a book “Religion, Politics and Good Governance’’ authored by retired police officer Mahmood Bin Muhammed, the minister said none could question the patriotism of the Muslims.
However, the author opposed reservations for Muslims. “Do you want to emerge as the new Dalits of the country by accepting reservations?’’ he asked. Saying that indiscrimination against minorities happened in all countries, he suggested that they make themselves indispensable by rendering valuable services.
Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur released the book. City Police Commissioner AK Khan and High Court judge B Seshasayana Reddy also spoke. Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute secretary Kamaluddin Ali Khan and Aslam Farshori were present.
———-Agencies