Muslim Leaders Urge Community To Participate In Caste Survey

Multiple Muslim leaders today appealed to Muslims to actively participate in the door-to-door caste survey by the Telangana government.

The Chairman of the State Minorities Commission, Tariq Ansari, asked Muslims to cooperate with the government and provide all the relevant data.

Ansari said that the survey was being conducted after several years, and that it was essential for every individual to ensure the accurate inclusion of their ethnicity, religion, caste and sub-caste, such as Muslim Shaikh, Muslim Qureshi, Muslim Faqir or any other relevant category.

"This step will not only aid in the recognition of our socio-economic rights but also pave the way for access to various government schemes and welfare policies. We appeal to the entire Muslim community to record their complete and correct details in this survey, ensuring that our rights are safeguarded and that future generations can benefit from government welfare initiatives. If our population is counted accurately, our representation becomes more significant, easing our community's access to opportunities and resources. Let's seize this opportunity to ensure the welfare and progress of our community," he said.

TPCC spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin warned against misinformation being spread about the caste census, to create fear within the Muslim community by linking the census to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Addressing media persons at Gandhi Bhavan along with TPCC general secretary Zaheer Lalani, he emphasised that the caste census was unrelated to citizenship documentation, directly countering claims purportedly circulated by some BJP and RSS members.

Nizamuddin clarified that the census would include specific columns for Muslims, particularly for Muslims in the BC-E category, ensuring that communities like Shaik, Qasab and Turka Kashavlu were represented.

"For our Muslim brothers and sisters, especially those in the BC-E category, selecting the right category in the official form is essential for accurate representation," he said, urging citizens not to be swayed by fake survey forms or fear-based propaganda.