“If the Central government refuses, the state would fight a legal battle”

“Telangana is set to pass a bill demanding 12 per cent reservations to Muslims and pressurize the Union Government to include the law in Constitution’s 9th schedule,” Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said today.

“If the Central government refuses, the state would fight a legal battle,” said KCR.

“Telangana will follow Tamil Nadu model to provide 12 per cent quota to Muslims. Moreover, the quota will not be on the basis on religion but will be based only on socio-economic backwardness,” KCR said the State Assembly.

“Reservations to Muslims in proportion to their population in the state will take the total quota in the state to over 50 percent, the upper limit prescribed by the Supreme Court, thus requiring a constitutional amendment,” Rao said.

“When Tamil Nadu can do it, why not Telangana. We will be providing quota in our state. We need this because the social composition of Telangana is such that weaker sections constitute 85 percent of the population,” he said

Referring to the point raised by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the chief minister said there would be no threat to current four per cent quota to Muslims as it is within 50 percent limit.

KCR said the BC Commission was seeking opinions from various sections and will submit its recommendations to the government. A bill will be formulated within a month, taking into consideration the observations made by courts during the hearing on the issue in the past.

Minorities constitute 14.24 percent of the state’s population and a  comprehensive plan has been prepared for their welfare and development.