Council adopts resolution on OBCs, Muslim quota

Hyderabad, Apr 4: Unanimously adopting two resolutions, one on OBC reservations and the other on reservations for Muslims, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council today urged the Centre to expeditiously resolve the stalemate arising out of the stay orders of courts.

Moving the resolutions on behalf of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah said due to the initiative of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had brought the OBC Reservation Act on which some ''vested interests'' moved the Apex Court and got an interim stay.

For the first time in the country, the Andhra Pradesh government provided reservations to the socially and economically backward Muslim community. As the decision was stayed by the High Court, the government had moved the Supreme Court, he said and appealed to the members to unanimously approve both the resolutions.

The House adopted the resolutions after members of Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and representatives of teachers and graduates welcomed the government's move. Members suggested that the issue could be resolved only through constitutional amendments by the Parliament.

UNI