Congress launches year-long celebrations for 30 years of Muslim reservation

Hyderabad, August 24: The Congress party launched a year-long celebration on Saturday, marking the 30th anniversary of Muslim reservation in the undivided Andhra Pradesh (now includes Telangana).

This commemoration began with the release of a short video highlighting the historical significance of the reservation process initiated by the Congress government on August 25, 1994.

The foundation of Muslim reservation was laid by the then Congress government led by Chief Minister Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy, with Mohammed Ali Shabbir serving as the country’s first Minority Welfare Minister. Under their leadership, GO Ms No 30 was issued, initiating reservations for Muslims in jobs and education.

During a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, Hyderabad DCC President Mohammed Waliullah Sameer, TPCC Secretary Mohammed Jaweed, and senior leader Mateen Shareef announced that the celebrations, beginning on August 25, will include a series of events aimed at raising awareness about the significance and impact of Muslim reservations.

The Congress leaders recounted the journey of Muslim reservations over the past three decades. They noted that although the Puttuswamy Commission was established to facilitate the process, the TDP government, which was in power from 1994 to 2004, stalled the efforts by granting six extensions without producing a report. It was only after the Congress party returned to power in the 2004 Assembly elections that the promise of 5 per cent Muslim reservation, made in its manifesto, was fulfilled. Within just 58 days of assuming office, the Congress government led by Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, with Mohammed Ali Shabbir as the minister, implemented the 5% reservation.

However, the reservation faced legal challenges in the High Court, leading to a temporary implementation halt from 2005 to 2007. Following the court's directive, the percentage was reduced to 4%, and the reservation was re-implemented from 2007-08. "Over the last 18 years, the 4% reservation has benefited nearly 20 lakh poor Muslim families in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, covering 14 socially and educationally backward groups among Muslims," claimed Syed Nizamuddin.

The Congress leaders stressed celebrating this milestone to highlight the struggles, difficulties, and legal battles fought to secure and sustain Muslim reservations. They expressed concern about the potential threat to the ongoing 4 per cent Muslim reservation under the current BJP rule and reiterated their commitment to protecting this reservation. They pointed out that Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir has been actively defending the 4% Muslim quota in the Supreme Court, with legal representation by Salman Khursheed.

"The campaign, launched on social media, has already received overwhelming support, with thousands of beneficiaries of the Muslim reservation sharing their stories and expressing their desire to participate in the celebrations. To accommodate this enthusiasm, the Congress party has decided to extend the celebrations over an entire year," informed Hyderabad DCC President Sameer Waliullah.

While the inaugural ceremony was initially planned for August 25, it has been rescheduled to the first or second week of September to ensure it is a grand event.

The Congress leaders highlighted the critical roles played by leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Dr Manmohan Singh, Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, K. Rosaiah, and Mohammed Ali Shabbir in the successful implementation and protection of Muslim reservation. They also emphasised the ongoing efforts of Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to defend the existing reservation.

As part of the year-long celebration, the Congress party plans to conduct a photo exhibition to showcase Muslim reservations' historical significance further. They have called on all beneficiaries and supporters of the Muslim quota to join and support the campaign.