"Sub-Plan And More Ministers For Minorities"

Former Minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir demanded that the Congress party introduce a sub-plan for the minorities in the state with a budget allocation of Rs. 5,000 crore.

Addressing the Pradesh Congress Committee's extension meet at L B Stadium here on Sunday, Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party could not ignore the welfare of Muslims in the state and therefore, to ensure concentrated development of the community, it should introduce a minorities' sub-plan aling the lines of SC/ST sub-plan bill.

Complaining of injustice within the Congress party, Shabbir Ali said that out of 40 ministers in the state cabinet, only one minister is a Muslim, and he too has been given the portfolio of "graveyards" (Wakf Board). While praising the government for the implementation of reservation for Muslims in jobs and education across the state, he demanded that the community be given political reservation.

The former minister, who lost assembly elections twice from Kamareddy seat since 2009, said that Muslims were unable to win Assembly elections due to polarisation. He said that in 2009 elections all six candidates of the Congress party, four of TDP, three of TRS and one of CPI had lost elections in the Telangana region. He said that except Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Muslim candidates of other parties could not win the elections. Therefore, he said, the Muslims should be accommodated in the Legislative Council and other nominated posts.

Shabbir Ali also ridiculed the promise being made by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu of giving 8% reservation to Muslims if he returns to power. He said that the Congress government faced legal problems after introducing a 5% reservation to Muslims, and was forced to cut it down to 4%. The case is still going on in the Supreme Court. He said that Naidu must explain how he proposes to manage the maximum 50% reservation clause, and whether he plans to cut the quota of BCs, SCs or STs to give an additional 4% reservation to Muslims.

Giving comparative figures, Shabbir Ali said that while the budget for Minorities during TDP rule stood at Rs. 34 crore, the Congress Government increased the budget to Rs. 498 crore. He challenged Naidu to an open debate on the steps taken by the Congress government for the welfare of minorities.

Shabbir Ali also ridiculed the promise of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao of giving Deputy Chief Minister's post to a Muslim. He said that while KCR could not ensure the victory of a Muslim candidate from Mahabubnagar seat in by-elections, how could he give the Deputy CM's post to a Muslim. (INN)