Muslims Quota Verdict: CM Writes To Centre

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Wednesday, urged the Centre to ensure that immediate action is taken in filing an appeal before the Andhra Pradesh High Court to protect the interest of minority communities.

In a letter to Union minister for law and justice Salman Khurshid, the CM said he was concerned about the orders passed by the High Court recently, striking down the decision taken by the government of India in earmarking a 4.5% sub quota for minorities included in the Central OBC List, within the 27% reservation provided for the OBCs at the Central level.

"As you are aware, the government of Andhra Pradesh, based on the recommendations of the AP Commission for Backward Classes, has included 14 socially and educationally backward communities among the Muslims in the state as a separate category called 'BC-E', providing for 4% reservation within the 29% reservation provided for the Backward Classes in the state through an exclusive Act No.26 of 2007," he said.

The Chief Minister said that 14 socially and educationally backward Muslim minority communities covered under Group-E in the list of Backward Classes in AP are not included in the Central list of OBCs notified for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

"The necessary proposal has been sent to the National Commission for Backward Classes, the government of India, New Delhi; and the ministry of social justice & empowerment, government of India, New Delhi; for the inclusion of the above 14 socially and educationally backward Muslim communities as minorities to be covered under the sub quota of 4.5% reservations for the minorities in the central list of OBCs for the state of Andhra Pradesh," he said. (INN)