Shabbir Ali, Azharuddin accuse BRS of ignoring Muslims in welfare, education, representation
The senior Congress leaders addressed the press at Gandhi Bhavan as the Jubilee Hills by-election is a prestige issue for the Congress Party in the state.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: Telangana Congress leaders, including former Minister Shabbir Ali and newly inducted Minister Mohammed Azharuddin, criticised the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) over welfare for Muslim communities.
They challenged the former ruling party’s record on Muslim welfare and asserted the Congress Party’s commitment to minority empowerment ahead of the crucial Jubilee Hills by-election.
The senior Congress leaders addressed the press at Gandhi Bhavan as the Jubilee Hills by-election is a prestige issue for the Congress Party in the state.
Shabbir Ali questions BRS’s 10-year record
Former Minister and government advisor, Shabbir Ali, launched a direct challenge to BRS leaders KCR and KTR, demanding they account for their actions benefiting the Muslim community over the past decade.
Welfare and Education: Ali questioned the BRS’s investment in minority education, specifically asking, “Did they (BRS) build even a single college for Muslims in Telangana?” He contrasted this with the Congress Party’s role in establishing several educational institutions in the state.
Discrimination Allegations: He accused KCR and KTR of practising Hindu-Muslim discrimination and highlighted the lack of support he received from the previous government when seeking justice in the Supreme Court for the four per cent reservation.
Welfare Schemes Claim: Ali claimed that the Congress Party was responsible for issuing ration cards and providing Urdu teacher posts.
Minority Data and Statistics: Citing a survey conducted by the CM Revanth Reddy-led government, Ali provided specific figures on the Muslim population in Telangana:
- Total Muslim Population: 12.58% of the state’s population.
- Backward Class (BC) Muslims: 10% (The government survey data cites this as 10.08%).
- Forward Class (OC) Muslims: 2.5% (The government survey data cites this as 2.48%).
Medical Education Data: He noted that 1,248 Muslim students are currently studying in Telangana medical colleges, with 682 securing free seats.
Call to Voters: Ali appealed to the Muslim community to ensure a ‘huge majority’ win for Congress candidate Naveen Yadav in the Jubilee Hills bypoll.
Azharuddin pledges to solve pending issues
Minister Mohammed Azharuddin, recently inducted into the Cabinet, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by the Congress and CM Revanth Reddy, vowing to address long-pending issues.
Scholarship Crisis: Azharuddin highlighted that Muslim students have not received scholarships for two years and pledged to work to ensure they receive 100 per cent of their scholarships.
Jubilee Hills Analysis: He dismissed the BRS’s performance in Jubilee Hills over the last 10 years as ‘zero’ (shūnyam) and expressed high confidence in a ‘100% strike rate’ victory for Congress.
BRS-BJP Alliance Claim: Azharuddin accused the BRS and BJP of ‘working together’ in the Jubilee Hills election, noting the lack of visibility of other party campaigns.
Response to Critics: Addressing criticism about his short tenure as minister, he stated that critics 'will say anything,’ affirming his commitment to the role and the party's outreach to the Muslim community.
