Shia leaders put forth four demands before TPCC panel

Hyderabad: Responding to an invitation from the TPCC manifesto committee, leaders from the Shia community met its chairman Duddilla Sridhar Babu, here on Monday.

The community leaders told Deccan Chronicle that they had put forth four demands: creation of a Shia welfare board, one per cent quota for the sect in the four per cent reservation earmarked for Muslims (Shias account for 10 per cent of Muslim population), declaring Moharram as a state event and allocating a budget of Rs 100 crore to take up restoration and maintenance works on 7,000 ashoorkhanas and their monthly honorarium for their mutawallis and mujwareens.

Despite their significant presence, the community's economic conditions are poor, while only the EBCs among Muslims are reaping the benefits of the four per cent reservation in various sectors. They deserve reservation in education and job opportunities, the community members said.

They brought before the commission the substantial electoral influence of the community given that there are over three lakh voters across the 24 Assembly segments in GHMC.

Mir Murtuza Ali Moosavi, who was part of the delegation, said “the meeting will help get support for the community. The Shia welfare board can promote our overall well-being.”