Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao seeks more quota for backward Muslims

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday told TRS MPs to take up the state assembly resolution of providing 12% reservation for backward Muslims and 10% for STs with the Centre.

This demand comes in the wake of the Central government seeking to provide 10% quota to economically weaker section (EWS). 

Rao told the MPs to seek amendment of the bill proposed by Centre accordingly, an official press release said. A similar demand was made by Samajhwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who asked for 5% reservation for Muslims citing a 'bad situation for Muslims in the country' and even went ahead and threatened of taking upon the streets for their "rights"

The Assembly had passed a resolution in 2017 to provide 12%  reservation for backward Muslims and 10% quota for STs and forwarded the resolution to the Centre, but no action has been taken since then.

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Sources have said that the increased 10% reservation will go to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The historic amendment goes in line with the Modi government's policy of junking caste-based appeasement. As per the constitutional amendment, sources have confirmed that every household where the income is below Rs 8 lakh, individuals across caste will be eligible for the said quota.

Furthermore, as per inputs, the Modi government will table the constitutional amendment on the floor of the house on Tuesday. Two articles will need to be amended - Articles 15 and 16 - in order to enable the additional 10% quota.

Sources say that the constitutional amendment which is being brought in by the Modi government will be a gamechanger in terms of reservation policy, especially in a big election year, since it is agnostic of caste and religious considerations.

As per sources, the reservations will go up from the current 50% to 60% and will be applicable for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to get a reservation in jobs and in education, thereby serving as a huge mode up upliftment. The new reservations will be applicable to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) across religions.

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(with inputs from PTI)