Telangana passes Bill to hike Muslim quota in jobs, education

 

The Telangana state cabinet on April 15 met to discuss the percentage of reservation and also approved the draft Bill of the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 2017. The Bill is meant to increase the reservations for Muslims (under Backward Classes E-category) and for Scheduled Tribes, in education and employment.

 

On Sunday, April 16, a special session was convened in the state Legislative Assembly at 11am. Only the BJP had opposed the Bill. The opposition BJP has been strident in its opposition to the proposal, alleging that it is against the spirit of Constitution as it is "communal".

 

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had even said the implementation of reservations on the basis of religion may result in social unrest in the country and "lead to creation of another Pakistan".

 

However, the Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao had clarified that the government is not proposing to give reservation on the basis of religion. In this session that was convened none of the BJP ministers took part and yet the Bill was passed.

 

 

MPs, MLAs, members of BC Commission and other Public Representatives called on CM KCR in his chambers at Telangana Legislative Assembly 1/n pic.twitter.com/NSzy4ndwyQ

— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) April 16, 2017

 

 

Now the with this bill, quota for Muslims has been increased by eight per cent, from the existing four per cent to 12 per cent, while the Scheduled Tribes quota has been increased by four per cent, from the six per cent to 10 per cent. KCR added that the percentage was been increased keeping in mind the Muslim population.

 

The Telangana government if following the Tamil Nadu model and now will send the Bill for the President’s consent and will also request for its inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

 

This move is being undertaken because TRS had promised to increase the quotas for minorities and STs in its election manifesto, Rao said the state government is only seeking to implement its promise. The CM said the Centre should leave certain matters like reservations to state governments as they concerned the states.

 

with PTI inputs