Congress gears up to mark 30 years of Muslim reservation on August 25

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Saturday announced that preparations were underway for the grand celebration of 30 years of Muslim reservation in the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, Hyderabad DCC president Mohammed Waliullah Sameer, and senior leaders Mateen Shareef and Mujeebullah Shareef stated that the main event, scheduled for August 25, was expected to be a significant milestone in the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. They revealed that chief minister A Revanth Reddy was likely to attend the event as the chief guest, further highlighting the importance of the occasion.

The venue will be decided in two days

Syed Nizamuddin informed that the main function would be held at either Indira Bhavan, Prakasam Hall, or another venue, with the final decision on the location expected within the next two days.

The event would see the participation of top Congress leaders from across the country, with invitations extended to prominent Muslim MPs of the party, including Md. Rakibul Hussain from Assam, Tariq Anwar and Dr Mohammed Jawed from Bihar, Shafi Parambil from Kerala, Hamidullah Sayeed from Lakshadweep, Imran Masood from Uttar Pradesh, Syed Naseer Hussain from Karnataka, and Imran Pratapgarhi from Maharashtra.

All Muslim MLAs and prominent leaders, including Salman Khursheed, had also been invited to the event. Further, he said Congress leaders elected as sarpanches, MPTC, ZPTC, corporators, and councillors under the BC-E reservation would be invited.

Reservation in jobs

The TPCC spokesperson emphasised the Congress party’s longstanding commitment to providing and defending reservations for Muslims in jobs and education.

He praised the pivotal roles played by Congress Chief Ministers Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, K Rosaiah, and the current CM Revanth Reddy in implementing and maintaining the 4 per cent Muslim reservation. He also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who had been part of this struggle since 1994.

GO 30

He said that on August 25, 1994, the then Congress Government issued GO Ms No 30, which included Muslims among 14 other castes to be given reservation. “The Congress party’s successful implementation of 5 per cent and later 4 per cent Muslim reservation within 58 days of coming to power was a huge achievement. The Congress party and Shabbir Ali have been fighting the legal battles to defend this reservation in the High Court and the Supreme Court,” he said while informing that the Telangana Government was currently defending the case in the Supreme Court, which would be heard by a Constitutional Bench.

Meanwhile, Sameer Waliullah said that the celebration aimed to raise awareness about the impact of 30 years of Muslim reservation on nearly 20 lakh poor Muslims in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The event sought to educate the public on the importance of preserving this reservation, especially in the face of efforts by the BJP to dismantle it.

“CM Revanth Reddy has already assured that the Congress government will continue to defend the 4 per cent Muslim quota, and Shabbir Ali has been actively countering the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to target Muslim reservation. Through this event, the Congress party intends to send a clear message to every household about the necessity of protecting Muslim reservations at all costs,” Waliullah Sameer said.