Congress accuses KCR of insulting Muslims

Hyderabad, July 3 (INN): The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has strongly criticised Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for trying to divert the attention of Muslim community from the real issues by announcing various sops for holy month of Ramzan.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Friday, TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir accused KCR of misleading the entire State, especially Muslims with his announcements on Iftar, Dinner, free clothes and other sops for Ramzan. "Rs. 26 crore fund is just nothing. KCR must fulfill his promise on providing 12% reservation by issuing an ordinance on immediate basis," said Uttam Kumar Reddy. He said that the State Government did not spend even 15% of Rs. 1100 Crore budget allocated for Minorities Welfare during the first quarter. "Not a single rupee has been spent for Shaadi Mubarak and other welfare schemes. Instead of taking up the real welfare, KCR is cheating the Muslims by organising Iftar Dinners," he said.

The TPCC chief said that the Congress party too would organised Iftar parties across Telangana State, from village to State levels, on July 10.

Shabbir Ali accused KCR of trying to humiliate the Muslim community. "Is he trying to give us 'Khairaat' (Alms)? KCR has insulted the entire Muslim community by offering a meagre Rs. 1,000 monthly salary to Imams, who enjoy highest respect in Islam. Has he consulted the Ulemas before making this announcement?" he asked while adding that a similar attempt made by the then Congress Government in 2004-05 to pay Rs. 5,000 per month salary to Imams was rejected by the Muslim Personal Law. He said KCR cannot take unilateral decisions on matters involving religion and religious sentiments.

He said KCR should have issued ordinance giving 12% Muslim reservation, constituted a judicial commission, granted executive powers to Wakf Board or ordered a probe into Alair encounter. "Instead of addressing real issues, KCR wants to cheat the entire Muslim community with his cheap publicity stunts like hosting Iftar party at 1,000 mosques. Iftar parties are part and parcel of our system and they are organised at every nook and corner. Government should have confined itself to one official Iftar party and spent the remaining amount on the welfare of poor Muslims. All these stunts are aimed at drawing political mileage in next GHMC elections," he said.

"A child gets spoiled if he is given chocolates and allowed to skip school. One must let a child cry, but force him to go to school to get proper education. Similarly, instead of resorting to stunts like Iftar parties, the Chief Minister should provide 12% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education. We must give Muslims pen, and not chocolates to improve their lives," he said.

Shabbir Ali also questioned the silence of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on the issue. He said both TRS and MIM should clarify their stand on Alair encounter and also explain when report on Kishanbagh police firing incident would be made public.

He also announced that the Telangana Congress would launch a massive agitation on the issue of 12% Muslim reservation after the month of Ramzan.