Hyderabad, January 01: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced that his party would give tickets to minorities in proportion to their population in the State during next elections.
Addressing the World Urdu Editors Conference at Jubilee Hall here on Saturday, Naidu said that his party would nominate minorities, particularly Muslims, as its candidates in proportion to their population in the State. Eminent personalities including editors of leading Urdu newspapers across the globe who attended the conference welcomed Naidu’s decision. He said reservation for minorities would be given for both assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Naidu listed out the initiatives taken for the welfare of Urdu language and minorities during the Telugu Desam Party’s rule in the State. He said that it was the TDP Government which made Urdu as the second official language in 16 districts of the State. He also assured that he would take steps for its effective implementation if his party returns to power. He also took the credit for cleansing the Hyderabad from communal riots.
The TDP chief said that distribution of funds for 6500 mosques, construction of 550 Shadi Khanas, Minorities Finance Corporation, Haj House, protection of valuable wakf land at Guttala Begumpet and introduction of separate budget for minorities’ welfare were some of the achievements of TDP Government.
Naidu exhorted the Urdu editors to highlight the problems being faced by minorities in the State. He also asked the editors to give possible suggestions to solve those problems.
In his presidential address, Siasat Editor Zahed Ali Khan asked all political parties to give reservation to Muslims in allotment of tickets. He also asked the parties to work hard to ensure their victory in the elections.
Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Sayeed Maleehabadi praised the organisers of World Urdu Editors conference and said such an event would help in the promotion of Urdu language across the globe.
TDP MLC Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masqati demanded that the State Government link Urdu language with employment. He said that the promotion and protection of Urdu would not be possible without linking the same with economic activity.
During the conference, a resolution was also passed to constitute World Urdu Editors Forum with Hyderabad as its headquarters. Siasat’s Editor Zahed Ali Khan has been named as the Forum’s chairman. While Forum’s Indian chapter would be led by Ahmed Sayeed Maleehabadi, ARY Group Editor Tariq Mahmood Shaam would be the chairman of Pakistan chapter.
The next conference of World Urdu Editors Forum will be held in Karachi and the 2013 conference will be held in Canada. (INN)