APCC ridicules TDP statement on minority reservations

Hyderabad, Jan 10 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today ridiculed Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu's statement on providing reservations to the minority community.

Addressing a press conference here, party spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy said it was astonishing that the TDP, which did not bother about reservation for minorities during its nine-year rule in the State, was now shedding crocodile tears for Muslims on the reservation issue.

He alleged that the TDP in its election manifesto did not mention anything about reservation for minorities. The Congress' in its election manifesto had mentioned about reservation for Muslims in employment and educational institutions. In the last four years, the State Government had taken several steps for the welfare of the minority communities, he said.

The Congress leader said the State government had promulgated an ordinance to provide reservations for minority communities in employment and educational institutions. The Government had also allocated Rs 123 crore in the budget for minority welfare.

Mr Reddy said the State Government had provided Rs 90 crore during 2007-08 for Minority Finance Corporation as against Rs 19 crore given by the previous TDP Government during 2003-04.

He said it was difficult for the TDP to gain the confidence of the minorities in the State, despite Mr Naidu's misleading statements on the issue.

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