Shabbir Ali gives PPT presentation on Muslim Reservation

Hyderabad, April 19 (INN): Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir tried to unfold some myths related to Muslim reservation in India and insisted that the community could be provided quota in jobs and education if the ruling party has a strong political will.

Giving a detailed power-point presentation at Indira Bhavan here on Tuesday, Shabbir Ali cited historical instances to claim that caste-based or religion-based quota in jobs and education existed in India much before independence. Beginning with the Minority Report, presented in the then Constituency Assembly on August 8, 1947, to the Sachar Committee, various commissions have proved backwardness of Muslims in the country. He said that the Congress party was always concerned about the development of Muslim community and therefore, it crossed several legal hurdles to provide Muslim reservation.

Shabbir Ali also explained the complete journey of battle for Muslim reservation in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh. He quota several GOs, outcome of several studies and the landmark decisions taken by previous Congress regimes to finally implement 5% Muslim reservation which was later reduced to 4% quota on High Court's orders. He also presented statistics to prove that 4% Muslim quota benefitted over 10 lakh socially and economically backward Muslims in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since its implementation in 2004-05 (except the year 2005-06).

The Congress leader also elaborated on Tamil Nadu model of reservation and the ninth schedule. He said unlike the claims of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Tamil Nadu's model too was not safe from legal hurdles. He said presently, four important cases were going on in the Supreme Court which include 5% Muslim quota given by Congress in 2004, 4% Muslim reservation, 4.5% OBC sub-quota for minorities announced by previous UPA-2 regime and also the Tamil Nadu's 69% quota, which is included in the 9th Schedule.

Shabbir Ali gave the PPT presentation to mark the second anniversary of promise made by KCR of giving 12% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education. During his presentation he also played the video clip wherein KCR made the promise while addressing a public meeting at Shadnagar of Mahabubnagar district.

Earlier, TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy launched a website www.muslimreservation.in. Leader of Opposition K. Jana Reddy also released "Success Stories on 4% Muslim Reservation," a video compilation of case studies from across the Telangana State who benefitted from the reservation policy.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar Reddy lashed out at KCR for his failure to fulfill the promises made to the Muslim minorities in the State. He pointed out KCR has reiterated the promises on multiple occasions, but even after two years there was no sign of its implementation. He said that KCR has been bullying Muslims of state and playing with their sentiments rather than sincerely trying to improve the socio-economic and educational status of the Muslims in the state.

Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao on this occasion said that reservations to the OBC category across the country must be fully and honestly implemented and demanded that BC castes must be given reservations in judiciary and private sector as well.

PAC Chairman Dr. J. Geetha Reddy, former TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, TPCC Minorities Department Chairman Mohammed Fakhruddin also spoke.

Former union minister Balram Naik, Nalgonda MP Guttha Sukhender Reddy, MLAs DK. Aruna and Bhaskar Rao, MLCs Mohammed Farooq Hussain, Akula Lalitha, Damodar Reddy, ex-ministers Sabitha Indira Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy and several other prominent leaders witnessed the PPT presentation.