Hyderabad, May 2: Advisor to the Telangana Government and senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir has come down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who vowed at an election rally in Zahirabad that as long as he is alive, he will not allow reservation for Muslims.
Shabbir condemned Modi’s remarks regarding Muslim reservations in the Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The former minister alleged that PM Modi is inciting communal feelings and hatred among various communities by falsely alleging that the reservation was taken from backward classes and given to Muslims.
Shabbir emphasized that the 4% reservation given to 14 selective groups of Muslims in 2004-05 was based on social, educational, and economic backwardness, and not on religious grounds. The Congress came to power in 2004 and implemented a 5% reservation for Muslims, creating a new category, ‘E’, among OBCs, without altering the existing reservations. However, because this exceeded the Supreme Court’s ceiling of 50%, the High Court struck it down, leading to new legislation that reduced the quota to 4%.
The Congress leader criticized PM Modi for calling the 4% Muslim reservation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana unconstitutional. He pointed out that the reservation for Muslims in the BC-E group was provided through legislation passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Council. He asked, “How can a law passed by the State legislature be unconstitutional?” He noted that the issue is currently sub-judice and that comments on Muslim reservations not only amount to contempt of court but also violate the Model Code of Conduct.
The former minister requested the Election Commission of India to restrain PM Modi and other BJP leaders from discussing the 4% Muslim reservation issue, given that it is under judicial review. He emphasized that it’s crucial for everyone to respect the Supreme Court and to trust its wisdom in sensitive matters like the 4% Muslim quota, which affects lakhs of poor people.
Shabbir criticized Modi and the BJP for lacking knowledge of the history of Muslim reservations and attempting to mislead the public. He stated that neither PM Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah could stop the 4% Muslim reservation, and the Congress party would continue to protect it. He noted that the Congress government had empowered poor Muslims by providing them with quotas in jobs and education.
He pointed out that the 4% Muslim reservation has been in effect in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since March 2010 due to a Supreme Court stay. Calling it unconstitutional amounts to contempt of the Supreme Court and disrespect for the Constitution. Shabbir Ali also criticized Modi for targeting Muslims, who represent nearly 20% of the total population, and emphasized that 4% reservation has benefited lakhs of families below the poverty line. By opposing the Muslim reservation, Modi is threatening nearly 1 crore Muslims living in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said.
He emphasized that Muslims, alongside Hindus and other communities, have played a significant role in the country’s freedom struggle. “Do Muslims not have rights to the country’s resources and opportunities? Are we not equal citizens?” he asked.
