Muslim quota seems impossible under TRS: Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad, April 6 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has expressed serious apprehensions over TRS Government fulfilling the promise of giving 12% reservation for Muslims in the State.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali strongly criticised Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakama Rao for his remarks against the Congress party over Muslim reservation issue. Giving the gist of three judgements delivered by High Court and the interim-stay granted by Supreme Court, he advised KTR to first learn the details of Muslim reservation case before making any statement. He said despite legal cases, the Congress Government ensured implementation of reservation for the last 10 years which benefitted more than 10 lakh socially, educationally and economically backward Muslims who were categorised as BC-E," Shabbir Ali said.

Shabbir Ali said KTR was speaking like an immature politician. He said KTR should have advised his father and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao about these legal complications in giving reservation. "KCR openly cheated the Muslims with criminal mind and wanted to grab their votes at any cost. For the same reason, he promised 12% reservation within four months after coming to power. Having secured power in the State, TRS Government started conspiring against the Muslim reservation cause. Senior advocate K. Ramakrishna Reddy was appointed as State's Advocate General despite knowing the fact that he contested the cases in High Court against 4% Muslim reservation. Now he cannot represent the State in Supreme Court as he had opposed Muslim reservation in past," he said.

Questioning the seriousness of TRS Government in giving 12% Muslim reservation, Shabbir Ali said 12% quota should have been given in areas where legal complications are not involved. Citing an example, he said of 4 Special Government Pleaders none is a Muslim; only one in 28 Government Pleaders is a Muslim while just 3 out of 57 Assistant Govt Pleaders are Muslims. Similarly, only two Muslims were appointed out of 64 Standing Counsels. He said that the TRS Govt should implement 12% Muslim quota in making appointments to Marketing Committees and other nominated posts. TRS should also give 12% of party posts to Muslim leaders, he said.

Through 4% Muslim reservation, Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party provided opportunity to over 10 lakh poor Muslim boys and girls to become doctors, engineers and other professionals. "It was due to BC-E reservation that former Mayor Majid Hussain of MIM was elected from Ahmednagar division which was reserved for BCs. Similarly, present Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin of TRS got elected from Borabanda, a division which was reserved for BCs. Of 46 Muslim corporators in GHMC, 29 got elected from BC reserved seats. This credit goes only to the Congress party," he said.

Shabbir Ali said Muslims were not interested in State Government's Iftar parties, but they want real development and equal opportunities in education and jobs. He ridiculed KTR's contention that TRS Government was taking all legal safeguards on reservation issue and said so far, at least 11 major decisions taken by TRS Government were struck down by the High Court.

The Congress leader said that the Sudhir Commission, which was originally asked to submit report within six months, has already been given two extensions. "There is no clarity on when Sudhir Commission will give its report and no clue on when the BC Commission will be formed. Further, one cannot predict the percentage of reservation which would be recommended by BC Commission. Most importantly, the behaviour of TRS Government gives clear indications that the promise of 12% Muslim reservation would remain unfulfilled," he said.

Shabbir Ali dubbed his criticism as 'spitting on the sky'.

Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (GHCC) Minorities Dept Shaik Abdullah Sohail was also present.