Former Minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly condemned Union Minister for Tourism G. Kishan Reddy for his remarks against 4% Muslim reservation during the campaign for Munugode by-elections.
Shabbir Ali, along with Hyderabad Minorities Dept former Chairman Sameer Waliullah and other leaders, was addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday.
He alleged that Union Minister Kishan Reddy violated the Model Code of Conduct by delivering a provocative speech against the Muslim community. He said a formal complaint has been sent to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar seeking action against the Union Minister.
“Several BJP leaders are openly violating the Model Code of Conduct by delivering provocative speeches during the campaign for the by-elections for the Munugode Assembly constituency in Telangana State. Kishan Reddy addressed a series of meetings in the last few days where he is deliberately raising the issue of 4% Muslim reservation. He is promising the voters that if BJP is voted to power, the Central Government would scrap the 4% quota in jobs and education for Socially and Economically Backward Classes among Muslims and distribute the same among other castes,” Shabbir Ali told the ECI in his complaint.
Shabbir Ali pointed out that the issue of the 4% Muslim quota was subjudice and presently a five-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit was hearing the matter. “Union Minister Kishan Reddy’s comments on Muslim reservation not only amount to contempt of court, but they also violate the Model Code of Conduct wherein the BJP leader is trying to lure voters by provoking them based on religion. Although the Muslim voters constitute only 3-4% of total electors in the Munugode constituency, the BJP leader is trying to polarise the elections by giving it a Hindu-Muslim twist,” he said.
The Congress leader sought the intervention of the Election Commission of India to restrain Union Minister Kishan Reddy and all others from speaking on the 4% Muslim reservation issue as the matter was subjudice. “It is the duty of one and all to show some respect to the Supreme Court and trust its wisdom on sensitive matters like the 4% Muslim quota which is related to lakhs of poor people,” he said.
Shabbir Ali said that the 4% Muslim quota was implemented by the then Congress Govt in 2004-05 based on the recommendations of a Backward Classes Commission. Initially, the quota was 5% and it was reduced to 4% following the directions of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to match the ceiling of 50% quota imposed by the Supreme Court as per the Indra Sawhney judgment. He said that the 4% quota was given separately without affecting the reservation percentage of any other community. However, he said Union Minister Kishan Reddy has been trying to create an impression as if the 4% belonged to some other caste and was given to poor Muslims. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah too made similar comments against the 4% Muslim quota without even considering the fact that the issue was pending in the Supreme Court.
“Amit Shah and Kishan Reddy are now Union Ministers and not just RSS and BJP functionaries. They must speak responsibly on sensitive issues,” he said.
He said he had also requested his advocate in 4% Muslim quota case and senior Supreme Court counsel Salman Khurshid to bring this matter to the notice of the Constitutional Bench stating that the Union Ministers were trying to influence the case by speaking against it in the public meetings.
He said that the Congress party believes in the true empowerment of poor and backward sections of society. “Unlike KCR, who cheated the Muslims and STs by promising a 12% quota, we had promised only a 5% quota for Muslims and reduced it to 4% to match legal requirements. Congress party never cheated or misled any community with fake promises,” he said.
“BJP is in power at the Centre. It need not wait for the next elections to increase the quota for BCs, SCs or STs. It has all the powers to bring legislation in the Parliament to increase the quota for all these communities in proportionate to their population across the country, including Telangana. Those covered under the 4% Muslim quota are socially and economically backward groups of Muslims. Instead of targetting the quota which is benefitting these poor Muslims, BJP should increase the reservation percentage of other communities,” he demanded.
Shabbir Ali said that the BJP has sensed a humiliating defeat in the Munugode by-elections. Therefore, as a last resort, he said BJP has been trying to polarise the Munugode by-polls by raising Hindu-Muslim rhetoric. “BJP and TRS leaders are facing public ire for the failed promises of their governments at the Centre and Telangana. They are unable to enter many villages of the Munugode constituency fearing public anger. To divert people’s attention from the real issue, BJP leader Kishan Reddy is raising the 4% Muslim reservation issue to incite religious feelings,” he alleged while adding that the Congress party was all set to win the Munugode by-elections with a huge majority.
