By Mohd. Ismail, TwoCircles.net
Hyderabad: Congress Muslim leaders are trying every bit not to lose the game of political demands with their community counterparts in Telugu Desam Party. After a month of promises generated from the TDP top leadership for Muslim community due to the continuous representation from the party’s Muslim leaders, now the arch rival’s congress Muslim leaders want to test their card over Andhra Pradesh congress leadership.
Andhra Pradesh Congress’s Minority Cell has conveyed its annual meeting of state cadre and district presidents in A.P Congress Headquarters Gandhi Bhavan. In the manual meeting demands from Congress Muslim leaders to the Congress govt. in AP run high. First time congress Muslim leaders unequivocally demanded reservation for minorities in local bodies polls which is scheduled next month. They also demanded a special sub plan for minorities as in case of SC and ST’s with a total budget of 7,200 crore.
Speaking to the large gathering consisting of District Congress Minority Cell presidents, Chairman of Pradesh Congress Minority Cell Mohd Siraajuddin in the annual convention said, “Govt. and Congress Party have started preparations for the local bodies polls, representation of minorities especially Muslims in the important institutions can be an only way for social progress. So Govt. should make sure representation is provided to the Muslims in Panchayat raj and Zilla parishad, and to achieve this objective if needed they should amend Panchayati Raj law or if there is any legal hurdle Congress party should provide separate Quota for Muslims while providing party tickets.
Congress M.L.A. Sheikh Mastan Wali called present budget for minorities as inadequate and insufficient, he said, “489 crore Budget is not enough to meet the ends and wants of minority community. In this 489 crore half amount is being spent in scholarship and fee reimbursement scheme, the remaining amount is not sufficient to carry out economic development activities.”
Mr. Mastan Wali batted strongly for a separate sub plan in the budget in the same way as it is for schedule castes and schedule tribes. He demanded a sub plan with a budget of at least 7,200 crore which should be started to concentrate only on the economic development of minorities.
Pradesh Congress Secretary Syed Yousuf Hashmi laminated how anguish Muslims in securing a bank loan even from govt. owned banks. He said, “Banks are refusing to provide loans to Muslims, chief minister should call a special meeting with bankers to discuss this issue, under the prime minister 15 point program it’s an obligation on banks to provide the loans to the backward class minorities on priority basis.” He also demanded that C.M. should look into the general implementation of P.M. 15 point program for minorities as meetings are going on for namesake and there is no result on ground level.
Another curious political demand is being made by vice-chairman Pradesh minorities department Abdul Ghani that at least a single Muslim should be appointed in district selection committee which appointments officials in government departments to check the alleged prejudice in the selection committee.
Annual convention of Congress Muslim leaders ended up with pressing more demands in the form of resolutions. Resolutions were passed demanding to stop discriminations grieved by congress Muslim cadre in district and mandal level and to provide representation to the community in influential and important nominated posts in Andhra Pradesh congress committee.