KCR promises reservations to muslims at any cost

Hyderabad: Reservations to Muslims would be provided at any cost and the State government will approach the Centre for allowing Telangana to implement reservation on the lines of seven States where the percentage of reservation exceeded the benchmark set by the Supreme Court, said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

Speaking to presspersons after the Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, Rao said he had repeatedly mentioned about provision of reservation on the lines of Tamil Nadu where the quota had touched 69 per cent. People of Tamil Nadu were enjoying the benefit of reservation for the last 32 years. “Why should the people of Telangana be deprived of this benefit,” KCR asked.

There was no provision to extend reservation on the basis of religion. Government proposed to extend the benefit taking into account the socio-economic backwardness of these communities. The quantum of reservation would be finalised at the next Cabinet meeting to be held on April 15 at 2 p.m. The next day a special session of the Assembly would be convened to present the Bill, the Chief Minister said.

He condemned statements being made by some political parties that BCs would suffer if reservations



were extended to Muslims. “We are only increasing the percentage of reservation and not creating new reservations,” the Chief Minister said and added that already 5 per cent reservation was existing in the two Telugu States.

Replying to questions, he said already in TN, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, AP, Manipur and Telangana reservations for Muslims were being given. Reservations in these seven States was given to some identified groups among Muslims taking into account their backwardness. The reservations ranged from 3 to 12 per cent. States offering reservations more than the benchmark are Tamil Nadu ( 69 per cent), Jharkhand (60) Maharashtra (52). In North East states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland the reservation extended to Tribals was 80 per cent.

The Chief Minister recalled how recently the Rajasthan government succumbed to the pressure of Gujjars and Jats and gave them reservation upto 68 per cent. The Rajasthan Assembly approved this and the Act was sent for Presidential nod. “We hope on similar lines Telangana would be allowed to implement reservations for Muslims. There can’t be different yardsticks for different States,” he remarked.