‘Firmly back 4 per cent reservation for Muslims’: Jagan Mohan Reddy

Jagan Mohan Reddy

Joining the debate on ‘Muslim reservation’, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said he firmly backs the idea of providing four per cent reservation to the Muslim community.

Reportedly, in election rallies, he assured the community that the state government will continue with its ongoing reservation for the minority community.

Muslims have been enjoying 4% reservations in education and employment under Other Backward Classes category in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since 2007 when the two states were united. However, this quota is being implemented not by cutting into the existing quota of the OBCs, but under a separate category of OBCs, called BC-E.

YSR Congress Party chief also alleged that TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu along with BJP state president D Purandeswari was stalling the distribution of welfare schemes in Andhra Pradesh.

According to the CM, the opposition leader wants to continue TDP's alliance with the saffron party, which allegedly wants to do away with the reservation for Muslims, but is "playing a drama in front of the minorities to garner their votes".

“Four percent reservation given to minorities is not based on religion but on par with social justice practices. We are taking steps to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of the poor, but Chandrababu’s politics is akin to that of a chameleon,” said Reddy.

Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13 and counting of votes will be on June 4.