Cong Govt committed to Muslim quota: AP Minister

Hyderabad, Mar 19 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabbeer today asserted the Congress Government was committed to ensuring reservation for Muslims in government jobs and education, overcoming all legal hurdles.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for his department, the Minister said as many as 7,000 students were benefitted when five per cent reservation was introduced in the State within two months of coming to power as per the Congress poll promise.

Only to overcome legal hurdles, the quantum of reservation was reduced to four per cent by consulting legal experts after the law enacted by the State Government was struck down by courts.

As many as 6,000 students were benefitted because of the policy of reservation last year, he said, alleging the TDP did nothing for the welfare of the Minorities during its regime.

The previous TDP Government delayed identification of backwardness of the community by giving as many as six extensions to the Puttasamy Commission.

He said the government was considering enhancing further the provision for repairs of Mosques, Masjids and Khabaristans from the Rs eight crore allocated in the Budget.

He promised the members that the Masjid destructed by contractors of the new international airport would be reconstructed.

The government would support Christian minorities to visit their sacred place of Bethlehem for which a budgetary provision of Rs two crore was made.

UNI SM VA KD KN1647