Congress Says KCR Will Renege On Muslims Reservation

The Telangana Congress on Tuesday demanded that the TRS government clarify whether it had accepted the recommendation of the Sudhir Commission for Inquiry on Socio-Economic and Educational Conditions of Muslims in August 2016.

Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (GHCC) Minorities Department Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Sohail, in a media statement, said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao received the report from the Commission on August 12, and placed it in the public domain on December 10.

"The Chief Minister remains silent on the four-month-old report. He needs to announce whether his government accepted the report wholly or in part. The Sudhir Commission made 11 major recommendations back then, and the State government ought to clarify whether it accepted those recommendations," he said.

Sohail Abdullah alleged that the State government was trying to mislead and confuse Muslims on its promise of giving 12% reservation in jobs and education.

"KCR is well aware that increase in Muslim quota from present 4% to 12% is not possible without the recommendation of a Backward Classes Commission. However, instead of constituting a BC Commission, it formed a Commission of Inquiry headed by Retd IAS officer G Sudhir, who has no legal sanctity. Since the Sudhir Commission, too, recommends an increase in quota to 12% or to a minimum of 9%, the State government is now trying to divert the attention of Muslim community by holding public hearings of BC Commission on Muslim reservations. The TRS must clarify on whether it accepts all the recommendations of the Commission, and what will its stand before the BC Commission be," he demanded.

The Congress leader pointed out that while recommending an increase in quota, the Commission had suggested that the State government pass a suitable law on the lines of Act Number 45 of 1994 as in the case of Tamil Nadu, and the matter taken up with the Government of India for necessary Constitutional amendment on the lines of the Constitution (Seventy Sixth Amendment) Act 1994.

The Congress leader also demanded that the government accept and implement other recommendations made by the Sudhir Commission which include the appointment of an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), the implementation of Diversity Index, proper implementation of Urdu as second official language of the State, and a sub-plan for Muslims.

He reminded that KCR had promised to give 12% reservations for Muslims within four months after coming to power. However, even 30 months after assuming Office, the Chief Minister is unclear on the issue.

Sohail Abdullah said that all political parties, NGOs, religious organisations and individuals made comprehensive representations to the Sudhir Commission on the backwardness of the Muslim community in the recent past. Therefore, except for enclosing the findings of the Commission, they would be having nothing new to speak on. In this scenario, it would be appropriate if the State government placed the Sudhir Commission Report in Assembly and Council, and accept all its recommendations.