Make PM Modi repeat his assurance on 12% Muslim quota: Congress tells KCR

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Tuesday demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao make Prime Minister Narender Modi announce his support for 12% Muslim quota during his coming visit to Hyderabad on November 28.

"During his speech in Assembly the Chief Minister has claimed that PM Modi was in favour of giving 12% Muslim quota. If the Prime Minister has really given an assurance to KCR in private conversation, then he should not have any hesitation in making a public announcement for the same. If the Chief Minister is not lying, then he should convince PM Modi to announce that his government will approve Muslim Reservation Bill," demanded Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee (GHCC) Minorities Dept Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail.

Abdullah Sohail said as announced by the Congress party during the rally 'Walk for 12% Muslim Reservation' held on November 11 of sending 10 reminders to the Chief Minister till June 2, 2018, to implement his electoral promise, the first reminder was sent to the Chief Minister today.

"We need not remind you that on April 19, 2014, while addressing a public meeting at Shadnagar you had promised to implement the 12% Muslim reservation within four months after coming to power. But we regret to say that you've miserably failed to fulfil your promise even after 40 months. In the recently held Assembly session, you claimed that the Prime Minister has given you a positive assurance on approving 12% Muslim reservation. Since we doubt your claim and even the BJP leaders have made it clear that no such assurance was given, we request you to kindly request the Prime Minister to make an announcement in this regard during his proposed visit to Hyderabad on November 28," he said in a letter to the Chief Minister.

The Congress leader also drew the Chief Minister's attention on a recent judgement of the Supreme Court on crossing 50% cap on quota. In its judgement on a case pertaining to increase in quota for Gujjars and four other backward communities in Rajasthan from 21% to 26%, the Supreme Court directed the Rajasthan Government to ensure that the 50% cap is not crossed. Presently, Rajasthan had 49% reservation which includes 16% for Dalits, 12% for Adivasis and 21% for OBCs. With this new 5% category, reservation in the State will stand at 54% - above the 50 per cent legal cap.

"When the Prime Minister hasn't come to the rescue of his own party's government in Rajasthan, we wonder what made you believe that he would support 12% Muslim reservation. Further, you had also announced that the Telangana Government would approach the Supreme Court if the Central Government rejects enhanced quota for Muslims. The SC judgment in Rajasthan's case has clearly weakened your stance," Abdullah Sohail said.

Abdullah Sohail urged the Chief Minister to announce a clear-cut road map for the implementation of 12% Muslim reservation. "The poor and backward Muslims have voted for your party in 2014 election expecting that the enhanced quota would revolutionise their lives. However, by causing delay, your government deprived them of additional 8% share in jobs and seats in government institutions during the last three-and-a-half years," he said.

He said that the Congress party would keep sending reminders to the Chief Minister till he fulfils his promise on or before June 2, 2018. If TRS Government fails to implement 12% Muslim reservation even after the completion of four years in power, the Congress party would launch a massive public agitation against it, he said.