CM assures reservation for Muslims in new academic year

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today assured Muslims that his government would clear all legal hurdles to provide five per cent reservation to them in jobs and education before the new academic year.

''We will leave no stone unturned to provide reservation for the community,'' he asserted, while addressing a seminar on Urdu here.

Concurring with the Sachar Committee recommendation that illiteracy was mainly responsible for the socio-economic backwardness of the community, Dr Reddy said ''we will see to it that minority students are provided best of education.'' While stressing the importance of learning mother tongue in primary school level, he suggested that modern education, including English and computers, should be introduced in Madrasas for the betterment of the community.

Asserting that his government was committed to uplift the minorities, he said allocation for minorities welfare had been stepped up to Rs 123 crore, including Rs 68 crore for provision of scholarship to minority students.

UNI