YSRC to promote minority causes, to hold Minority Mahasabha

Vijayawada: The ruling YSR Congress has promised to continue its work for the welfare of the minorities and give major representation to Muslims in both party and government.

The party organised a state-level meeting of minorities here on Thursday as part of its outreach campaign in the state -- and after the successful holding of the Backward Communities (BC) Mahasabha a while ago. At the event, government adviser on public affairs, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, claimed that the Jagan-led government has fulfilled all the poll promises it had given to the minorities.

Over 1000 minority leaders including the first minority deputy chief minister Amzath Basha, Kurnool MLA Mohammad Abdul Hafeez Khan, Madanapalle MLA Mohammad Nawaz Basha, Guntur East YSRC leader Noori Fathima, MLC Mohammad Ruhulla, MLC Ishak Basha, MLC Shaik Mohammed Iqbal and WAQF Board chairperson Khadar Basha were present.

They complimented chief minister Jagan Reddy for the “exemplary” work the YSRC government did for minorities and also deliberated upon ways to further uplift and empower the Muslims in AP.

Deputy CM Amzath Basha said, “The minorities in AP have finally been given their due recognition and respect. Their concerns are being raised and their voices are being heard. Unlike in the past, Muslims are included in the overall development agenda of AP. The Telugu Desam only used the Muslims for its vote-bank politics, but CM Jagan has fulfilled all the promises he had made to us.”

Adviser Ramakrishna said CM Jagan had fulfilled his promise of protecting Waqf properties by helping the entity regain nearly 32,000 acres of encroached land and by establishing a Waqf Tribunal in Kurnool. “The honorarium for Imams and Muezzins too has been increased to `10,000 and `5,000 a month respectively.”

He said the CM also provided significant political representation to the community. For the first time in AP, the state has a deputy chief minister, four MLAs, four MLCs, and a woman deputy chairperson of the legislative council from the minority community. The ‘YSRC is for you, it is you. We will stand together with you in anything and everything.”

Kurnool MLA Abdulhafeez Khan elaborated, "Hum Musalmaan hai, izzat milegi toh jaan denge. Jagananna ne humko izzat diya hai aur zaroorat padti hai toh YSRC ke liye jaan deneko tayyar hai" (We are Muslims, we can give up our life for anyone who respects us. CM Jagan has given utmost respect to us, so if a need arises, we are ready to give up our lives for the YSRC).

The meeting passed four resolutions that stated the YSRC would work to strengthen the state’s Muslim community and the Jagananna  Sandesham (YSRC government's initiatives to empower Muslims) would be reached to every minority household in the state. There would be inclusive efforts to meet all stakeholders including Ulemas, Imams, Mouzans, Masjid committee members, Madrasa stakeholders, and WAQF board stakeholders, to communicate to them as well as understand their aspirations.

Efforts would also be made by the YSRC leadership to meet and interact with influential minority leaders preparatory to the holding of a massive Minority Mahasabha, a resolution said.