AP Govt to ensure reservation to Muslims: Minister

Hyderabad, July 27 (UNI) Even as the opposition demanded Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekara Reddy to step down in the wake of the Centre's counter-affidavit against religion-based reservation the state Government asserted it was committed to providing five per cent reservation to the Muslims, overcoming all hurdles.

Talking to newspersons here, Information Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer said, ''We will puruse the matter in the Supreme Court to its logical end and ensure the members of the Community were benefitted.'' Meanwhile, BJP National Secretary B Datattreya told newspersons here that the Centre, which had submitted before the apex court that religion-based reservation was ''unconstitutional,'' should ensure that Dr Reddy stepped down.

''The divergent stand of the UPA Government at the Centre and the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh'' exposed the bankruptcy of the ruling party,'' he said, adding the party was planning to move the Supreme Court on the issue after consulting the High Command.

Alleging the Congress was cheating the Muslim community, TDP Spokesman K Srihari told newspersons that the State Government did not lend its ear to the ''suggestions'' made by the TDP on the issue.

UNI SM KVV AK RAI2008