Congress describes UPA's tenure as 'Golden Decade' for Minorities

Hyderabad, Feb 9 (INN): Union Minister for Minorities Welfare K Rahman Khan on Sunday claimed that the Congress-led UPA Government has laid a strong foundation for the development and growth of minorities, especially Muslims, in the country.

Addressing a meeting on 'Achievements of UPA Government & The Future of Minorities' organized by All India Minorities Forum at Lalitha Kala Thoranam here, Rahman Khan said that the Congress-led UPA Government have taken some revolutionary steps for the welfare of minorities. He said that the initiatives taken by the Centre, especially the Ministry of Minority Welfare, have started changing the lives of minorities.

Rahman Khan expressed concern over the lack of strong leadership among Muslims. He said that the country could not produce a strong leader at the national level after Moulana Abul Kalaam Azad. He said most of the leaders have been imposed by the political parties and no one has emerged as a leader on his own. He enthralled the Muslim youth to join active politics to change the trend.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir claimed that the UPA Government had achieved what could not be done in the last several decades. He described the period from 2004 to 2014 as the 'Golden Decade' for Indian Muslims. He said that while the UPA-I laid the foundation for the real growth of minorities, the UPA-II accomplished what could not be achieved in the history so far. The last 10 years - from 2004 to 2014 - will be registered in the history as the Golden Decade for Muslims in India. He said that the list of achievements of the Congress-led UPA Government is too long.

Similarly, Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party always had a clear vision for the development of minorities in Andhra Pradesh. Right from constituting country's first Minorities Welfare Department, the Congress Government, in the last one decade, have successfully implemented the 4% reservation policy besides extending fee reimbursement and scholarship benefits to Muslims.

Speaking about impact of 4% Muslim reservation, Shabbir Ali said that with an annual intake of 225 in government Medical colleges due to 4% reservation policy, so far, nearly 2,000 poor Muslims students, including girls, have become doctors. In addition, 500 students are getting admissions in Minority Medical Colleges taking total output of Muslims doctors in Andhra Pradesh to 725 per year. Similarly, a total of 9023 Engineering seats in the State are earmarked for Muslims under BC-E category reservation. In the year 2013-14, under the SW-I & SW-II-AC, as many as 12,415 Muslim students got admission in B Tech/B Pharm, 5,975 in MBA/MCA, 1,840 in M Tech/M Pharm and 2,250 in B Ed.,

'If 2004-2014 was the Golden Decade, then another 10 years of Congress Rule in the country and State will ensure the complete transformation of Muslims into a highly educated, economically strong and socially empowered community in the world,' he said.

However, Shabbir Ali demanded that the Central Government take steps for giving 4.5% reservation to minorities in jobs and education at the national level, introduce Sub-Plan for Minorities on the lines of SC, ST Sub-Plans and enhance the national budget for minorities welfare to Rs 20,000 crore.

AICC Spokesperson M Afzal, Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao and other leaders also addressed the meeting.