Uttam questions KCR on 12% Muslim quota, Metro Rail in Old City

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has slammed the TRS Government for its failure to implement the major electoral promise of giving 12% reservation in jobs and education to Muslims.

The TPCC chief was addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday after welcoming about 50 eminent personalities who joined the Congress party. Those who joined the Congress today include Retired IIS officer and former Director of Doordarshan (Chennai) Shujath Ali, Dr. Prem Prasad (founder member TDP), Mohd Nayeem (AP Kesari Award Winner), Rafia Nausheen (Writer and Social Worker), Dr. Muzaffar Ali Sajid and Mohammed Yousuf Khan (Advocates), T. Satyanarayana Sharma (Advocate), F.R. Michael (Retd. Senior PRO Railways), Samuel Thomas (Air India), Mohammed Ayub (International Table Tennis Player), Himayath Ali (Retd ACP), Syed Ali (Retd Inspector), Sadiq Ahmed (NRI), Sohail, Ahmed, Mohammed Munawar Ali (Artist) and others. They were introduced by TPCC Chief Spokesperson and Chairman of Professional Congress Dr. Dasoju Sravan. Greater Hyderabad Minorities Dept chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail and other senior leaders were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that ex-leaders of Jana Shakti had recently joined Congress while the influx of party leaders from TDP, TRS and other groups and different sections of the society into Congress was on. He said the joining of eminent personalities and intellectuals into Congress was a clear indication that the party's mass appeal has strengthened and it would bounce back to power in 2019 elections both in Telangana State and at the Centre.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reminded that as a citizen he was shocked over the way BJP was treating minorities. He said religious fundamentalism under BJP regime was at its peak wherein people are being targeted for what they eat, wear or marry and even on the number of children they have. He said independent India had never seen such behaviour. He said secularism and equality was the fundamental philosophy of Congress party and it gives equal respect to all religions.

Speaking about TRS Government, he reminded that KCR had promised to implement 12% Muslims reservation in just 4 months after coming to power. However, he said that the promise remained unimplemented even after 40 months. He said now the Chief Minister is talking about speaking to Prime Minister Narender Modi, raising the issue in Parliament, approaching the Supreme Court and even staging a dharna in Delhi. He said that the Congress party is demanding KCR to fulfil what he promised. He said TRS would have no moral right to seek Muslim votes if it fails to implement 12% quota. Similarly, he said promises made for improving the functioning of Wakf Board and Urdu Academy remained unfulfilled.

Stating that he was born in Charminar Government Hospital, Uttam Kumar Reddy said he had connection with the Old City since his birth. He strongly criticised the TRS Government for not starting the Metro Rail in the Old City. He asked as to why the people of Old City were being deprived of benefits of Metro Rail. Criticising Municipal Administration Minister K. Tarakarama Rao's crave for publicity, he said that the minister was silent on starting Metro Rail works in the Old City.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the much-hyped double bed room houses for poor too remained a non-started for the people of Old City, especially Muslims. He said that the Congress party would conduct a tour of Old City to check how many Muslims got 2BHK houses. He said the number of Muslim beneficiaries across the State were too meagre compared to their percentage in population and eligibility criteria. He alleged that the TRS Govt did not fulfil any of the promises made to the Dalits, Girijans, Muslims or any other section of the society. Stating that the Congerss party believes in secularism, social justice and inclusive growth, he expressed confidence that people will put an end to the 'Tughlak' regime of KCR in 2019.

TPCC Chief Spokesperson Dasoju Sravan said that people were fed up with the misrule of PM Modi at the Centre and mini-Modi (KCR) in Telangana State and therefore, they are joining the Congress party to defeat them in next elections.

Shujath Ali described his joining the Congress as a 'homecoming' for him. He said Congress is the only party which could keep India united and bring peace and prosperity for all. He said communal harmony was the need of the hour to take the country on the path of growth. He said BJP's medicine of communalism was about to expire.