"How Will TDP Get Quota For Muslims?"
"5% reservation given to Muslims by the Congress party in 2004 had been scrapped by the court, and when the percentage was reduced to 4, it was again challenged in the court."
Hyderabad | 9th December 2012
Congress MLC M S Prabhakar on Sunday asked the Telugu Desam Party to clarify how it plans to provide the promised 8% reservation to Muslims if it returns to power in next elections.
Talking to reporters in the Assembly premises, Prabhakar said that the TDP, in its meeting held at Nizam College Grounds on Saturday, has promised 8% reservation for Muslims, and a Rs. 2,500 crore budget for minorities' welfare. However, he added, 5% reservation given to Muslims by the Congress party in 2004 had been scrapped by the court, and when the percentage was reduced to 4, it was again challenged in the court. The case is still pending with the Supreme Court.
Prabhakar said that the TDP leaders should explain the legal provision and possibilities of giving 8% reservation to the Muslims in the state. Else, he said, such proposals were bound to face legal hurdles. However, he said that the TDP was not sincere about its promises and they were being made only to lure the common Muslims.
The Congress MLC also questioned the TDP's promise of increasing the minorities' budget to Rs. 2,500 crores. He said that the TDP should also explain how it would organise funds to fulfill its promises.
Prabhakar also greeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her birthday. (INN)
filed in: Congress, Reservations, TDP, M S Prabhakar, Muslim Reservations