CM's Post For T Muslims: TMJAC

Representatives of several prominent Muslim organisations and other political leaders on Thursday demanded political reservation for the Muslim community in the Telangana state.

Addressing a Round Table Conference on "Future of Muslims in Telangana" organised by the Telangana Muslims Joint Action Committee (TMJAC) on Thursday, the Muslim leaders stressed the need for political empowerment of the community in the new state of Telangana. They said that if a Sikh (Manmohan Singh), whose community constitutes just 2% of the total population, could become Prime Minister, then a Muslim, whose community forms 18% of the population in Telangana, could surely become the Chief Minister of Telangana.

The conference was attended by Muslim leaders from all 10 districts of Telangana.

Delivering the keynote address, Moulana Hamed Hussain Shattari asked the community to refrain from indulging in emotional and communal politics. Instead, the community should make a comprehensive plan for its political empowerment, he asserted.

In his presidential address, TMJAC President Mushtaq Mallik said that Muslims constitute about 17-18% of the total population in the Telangana region, and that they should get adequate share in power. He said Muslims should focus on strategic voting, as no political party can afford to ignore their importance in the next elections.

He claimed that Muslim candidates can comfortably win at least 24 Assembly seats if they contest strategically. Similarly, at least three Lok Sabha seats can be won by Muslim candidates, he said.

Mushtaq Mallik demanded that all political parties allocate sufficient tickets to Muslim candidates. He also appealed to Muslims to vote for powerful Muslim candidates, irrespective of the parties that they represent.

The TMJAC leaders demanded that the post of Deputy Chief Minister and three berths in Telangana Cabinet be reserved for Muslims. They also demanded 12% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education.

They also said that Wakf properties under the control of Lanco, Viceroy Hotel and RGAI should be restored. Further, they said that in cases where restoration is not possible, the Wakf Board should be given shares/partnership in those institutions.

Further, the TMJAC leaders also demanded first language status for Urdu along with Telugu in the wholw of Telangana. Urdu should also be linked to employment, they said.

TRS MLC Mahmood Ali assured that he would take up the demands of Muslims in the region with the TRS leadership, and that all important demands would be included in his party's manifesto.

The conference was also addressed by Mufti Nadeem, TRS Politburo member Ibrahim, TMJAC general secretary Raheemullah Khan Niazi, Khaled Rasool Khan of All India Muslim Sangham, Mazhar Shaheed of Indian Union Muslim League, Syed Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed of Welfare Party of India, Arshad Hussain of Aam Aadmi Party, Khursheed Begum of AP Mahila Congress, Shahbaz Ali Khan of Mehedvia Movement and other leaders. (INN)