CM credits Congress leaders with introducing the quota, says it has helped minority students enter professional education and government services
HYDERABAD, November 11: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday mounted a strong defence of the four per cent reservation available to eligible Muslim groups in the state, challenging the BJP to remove comparable provisions in Gujarat before demanding changes in Telangana.
Addressing the National Education Day and Minority Welfare Day celebrations in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said the Congress would continue to stand by minority communities and oppose attempts to undermine their access to education and employment.
Referring to criticism of the reservation policy, Revanth Reddy said: “If you have the courage, remove minority reservation in Gujarat first.” He said the Congress would defend the interests of minorities alongside those of other disadvantaged communities.
Credits Congress leadership for the four per cent quota
The Chief Minister recalled the efforts of the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior Telangana leader Shabbir Ali, in securing the four per cent reservation framework.
He said the policy had helped thousands of eligible minority students gain access to professional education, including medicine and engineering, and had opened pathways to government employment.
Revanth Reddy referred to minority candidates entering Group-I and Group-II services and the police department, arguing that affirmative action remained necessary to address educational and economic disadvantages.
Targets BRS over its 12 per cent reservation promise
The Chief Minister also criticised the previous BRS government over its promise to provide 12 per cent reservation to minorities. He said the commitment had not been fulfilled during the party’s ten years in power.
He contrasted that promise with the four per cent reservation framework, which he said had delivered tangible opportunities to students and job-seekers.
Questions withdrawal of minority scholarships
Revanth Reddy also criticised the Union government over the discontinuation of certain minority scholarship schemes. Questioning the decision, he asked why children from economically weaker backgrounds should be deprived of financial assistance for education.
“Which community a child is born into is not in the child’s hands,” he said, adding that governments had a responsibility to support poor students irrespective of their background.
The Chief Minister said education, employment, healthcare and political representation must go together to ensure meaningful empowerment of minorities.
