Uttam questions KCR's silence on 12% Muslim, ST quota

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of duping the Muslims and Scheduled Tribes (STs) on enhancing their quota in jobs and education.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that KCR, in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narender Modi, did not even make a representation seeking approval of Bill passed by Telangana Legislature to enhance Muslim quota to 12% and ST reservation to 10%. He said that the increase in quota for Muslims and STs did not even figured in the list of issues raised by the Chief Minister before PM Modi. He said that the meeting itself had exposed that the Chief Minister blatantly lied on the floor of Telangana Legislative Assembly by claiming that PM Modi had agreed to enhance the Muslim quota.

"What happened to KCR's promise of bringing 12% Muslim and ST reservations under 9th Schedule? Where are the tremors which KCR promised to create if Centre disapproves increased quota for Muslims? Why is he not staging a dharna or protest before Jantar Mantar? Why KCR is afraid of raising the issue of 12% Muslim reservation before PM Modi?" asked the TPCC chief adding that the Muslims and STs would teach TRS a fitting lesson in next elections for the way KCR cheated them repeatedly.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that KCR has been a staunch supporter of PM Modi. He was the first Chief Minister to support Modi on the issue of demonitisation and GST. He politically strengthened the BJP by supporting its candidates for the post of President and Vice President of India. TRS has acted as a secret ally of BJP since beginning. However, just to cover up their failures, both TRS and BJP have been acting like rivals to divert people’s attention, he said.

The TPCC chief also slammed the Chief Minister for not questioning the Central Government for its failure to set up Bayyaram Steel Plant, Tribal University, Railway Coach Factory at Kazipet and other assurances.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party has been strengthening its organisation in Telangana through various initiatives. He said several initiatives have been taken to put all leaders and workers, upto booth level, in active mode. He said the party has been closely monitoring the problems and issues concerning various sections of the society and they are being raised in relevant forums. He informed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was giving final shape to the new committees and other units. He also confirmed that surveys were being conducted at Assembly level to pick the appropriate candidates for next elections. He said aspirants with highest chances of winnability and those maintaining good rapport with public would be selected as candidates.

The TPCC Chief also demanded that the State Government clarify on the percentage of reservation that it proposes to implement for Backward Classes in the forthcoming Panchayat Raj elections.

TPCC Vice-President Dr. Mallu Ravi, MLAs A. Sampath Kumar and Vamshichand Reddy and other leaders were also present.

Uttam Interact With Party Workers on FB

Later in the day, Uttam Kumar Reddy had a live interaction with the party workers through social media platform Facebook. He asked the party workers to enlighten the Muslims and STs on the cheating done by KCR Government on the issue of 12% reservation. He said KCR's silence on the issue of 12% Muslim reservation was highly questionable. He also asked them to expose the secret tie-up between TRS and BJP.

Stating that only 8-9 months were left for the next elections, Uttam Kumar Reddy asked the party workers to strengthen the organisation. He said that the constitution of 14-member committees in each of 30,600 polling booths should be completed at the earliest. He directed the DCC presidents to appoint incharges and regular bodies for Assembly and Mandal level units. He also asked the party workers to connect themselves with Shakti, a special mobile designed for the party at the national level.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also gave replies to various calls which he received during the live programme. He said that the KCR Government has failed to provide promised one lakh jobs and neglected the welfare of all sections of the society. He said KCR had promised to give one job in each family to create 'Bangaru Telangana'. Instead, the Chief Minister created a 'Bangaru Kutumbam' (golden family) by taking away five top posts for the family members.