Hyderabad: Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Saturday demanded that the BRS leadership state its position on the inclusion of Muslims in the 42% BC quota.
At a condolence meet for senior Urdu journalists, he accused K. Chandrashekhar Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, and T. Harish Rao of backing the BJP’s demand to exclude BC-E Muslims from OBCs.
Shabbir said the BJP has tried to turn the quota issue communal, though the law doesn’t base it on religion. He said the BRS silence helps that agenda.
He recalled that the Congress introduced 4% Muslim reservation under BC-E in 2004–05, which helped over 22 lakh people. He said the current Congress government is defending it in the Supreme Court.
He said the 42% BC quota for local bodies would also benefit BC-E Muslims, improving their political representation.
Shabbir offered financial help to the families of Syed Shaik Naseeruddin and Waheed Quadri and urged Urdu journalists to assert their rights.
He called for a published record of Urdu journalists’ contributions. He urged the media to counter communal narratives and promote awareness of Muslim leaders’ work.
