TRS in power for so long, no Muslim benefitted: Uttam Kumar Reddy

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was preparing the ground to wash his hands off the promise of giving 12 per cent reservation to Muslims.

Speaking to mediapersons at Gandhi Bhavan, he said, if Rao was sincere, then he should have announced that the TRS would not seek votes from Muslims and STs if he failed to implement promised reservation for both the communities.

Reddy, while addressing an election meeting on April 19, 2014, said that Rao had promised to implement 12 per cent Muslim quota within four months after coming to power.

“The TRS government has completed three years, five months and nine days in power but not a single poor muslim has benefited from his promise,” he said.

The Muslim Reservation Bill was passed on April 16, 2017, and after six months and 25 days, Rao said he will would pressurise the Centre.

“We seriously doubt his intentions on 12 per cent Muslim quota,” Reddy added.

He also expressed doubts over KCR's claim that he spoke to Modi on the Muslim reservation issue. He said Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, as the then the Union Minister, had openly stated that Modi was against Muslim reservation.

Similarly, Telangana BJP leaders have clearly stated that they were against Muslim reservation.

"Is PM Modi separate from BJP? Who should we trust on this? Should we trust KCR's claim that Modi was in favour of Muslim quota or should we believe BJP leaders?" he asked.

The TPCC President demanded Chief Minister to give a clear cut deadline for implementing the 12 per cent quota for Muslims.