BJP may Scuttle Muslim Quota Move: Deputy CM

Says KCR is mulling to adopt Tamil Nadu model to raise the cap on reservation from 50 to 70 percent in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The BJP government at the Centre may scuttle Telangana government’s efforts to provide 12 pc reservation to Muslims in the state, deputy chief minister Md Mohamood Ali has said.

“The TRS government is committed to providing 12 pc reservation to Muslims but due to the court ruling that reservation should not exceed 50 pc as a whole, it needs the support of Parliament to make it happen. But with the BJP being in full majority in the Lok Sabha, it may come in the way of providing  reservation for Muslims,” Ali said at a ‘Meet the Press’  organised by the Telangana Union of Working Journalists here on Tuesday. “Chief minister K Chandrasekhara Rao is mulling to adopt Tamil Nadu’s model to raise the cap on reservation from 50 to 70 pc in Telangana and will take up the matter with the Union government soon. The commission of inquiry set up to study the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims in Telangana, headed by G.Sudhir, will submit its report soon. Basing on the report the government will take further steps on reservation,” Ali said.

Claiming that TRS was a secular party, Mahmood Ali said that as reservation based on religion may be opposed by some, the government was planning to provide reservation to Muslims on the basis of their poverty and backwardness.

“The TRS government has introduced schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and minority residential institutions aimed at the development of Muslims in all respects and will do all in its power and purview for the uplift of Muslims in Telangana,” the deputy chief minister said.

Ali, who is also the revenue minister, said the government would allot houses to all Telangana journalists who had been subjected to discrimination for decades by past governments. Replying to a query, Mahmood Ali said the TRS would contest GHMC elections on its won and not have alliance with any party.

TUWJ president Shoukath Ali Sufi,  vice-president Ghulam Abbas were present at the meet-the-press.

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