KCR cannot hide failures by praising Nizam: Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (President) Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was trying to hide his failures on Muslim welfare by showering praises on Nizam.

"KCR did not even spare even Haj pilgrims who are going on a holy journey. Instead of speaking about what his government has done for the minorities, especially Muslims, KCR delivered a lecture on Nizam's achievements while flagging off 4th batch of Haj pilgrims at Haj House on Tuesday. The Chief Minister wrongly believes that he could avoid questioning by Muslim community on his failures only if he says a few sentences in praise of Nizam," Uttam Kumar Reddy said while speaking to media persons at Haj House after flagging off 5th batch of Haj pilgrims on Wednesday.

Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned KCR's silence on the implementation of 12% Muslim reservation. "Although the Bill to increase the Muslim quota was passed in both the Houses of Telangana Legislature in April this year, the increased quota of 12% remained unimplemented for the academic year 2017-18.

Similarly, Muslims did not get 12% quota in nearly 27,000 jobs which government claims to have provided during the last three years. KCR had promised to implement 12% Muslim reservation within four months after coming to power. But even after four years, TRS Government is not in a position to specify the deadline for its implementation. KCR should give an assurance that 12% Muslim quota will be implemented in another 84,000 jobs which he is promising to give," he demanded.

He said present 4% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education was given by the previous Congress regime.

The TPCC Chief said KCR's claims on minorities’ welfare were as hollow as his promises. He said that the TRS Government was yet to constitute the Haj Committee and even after three years of Telangana formation, Haj arrangements are being made on Ad Hoc basis. He also asked the Chief Minister to explain the status of new Haj House which he had promised to construct. "Instead of making new promises, the Chief Minister should review his previous speeches to make a list of assurances which remained unfulfilled," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also accused KCR of strengthening the communal forces in the country. "Despite his claims of being a pro-Muslim leader, KCR has been sailing with the BJP since beginning. He considers Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his ideal and has supported all his decisions which are originally taken by the RSS and Sangh Parivar. KCR is a secret ally of BJP and has been deceiving the Muslim community by making fake claims," he alleged. He also ridiculed KCR's claims on spending on minorities’ welfare and alleged that not even 50% of allocated funds were being spent on the community.

Earlier, Uttam Kumar Reddy interacted with the Haj pilgrims at Haj House and enquired about the facilities being provided to them. Addressing the gathering, he appealed the pilgrims to pray for peace and prosperity in India, especially Telangana State. He told them that the Congress party has always protected minorities and would continue to do so in future. Unfortunately, he said that the country was presently under the rule of those who are backing anti-Muslim elements.

However, he said that the Congress party has been fighting against the communal forces and would not allow them to tarnish the secular fabric of this country. He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi have directed the Congress workers to counter communal and divisive forces across the country.

Leaders of Opposition K. Jana Reddy (Assembly) and Shabbir Ali (Council) and other senior Congress leaders were also present.