While clearing his government's stand on Muslim reservations, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday also announced that Urdu will be the second official language in the state. This will allow the government bodies to use Urdu as the official means of communication besides conducting competitive exams in the same language.
While the state already has 4% reservation for Muslims, in April, KCR had passed a bill to extend it to 12% in jobs and education as promised before the 2014 elections. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded positively to his request, he said that his government is ready to face a legal battle if required.
Speaking in the assembly, he said, "I am hopeful about PM's word, if not we will fight in Parliament. We will ask the Supreme Court to give notice to the central government. When another south Indian state Tamil Nadu has 69% reservation, why can't we have the same?"
If the proposed hike in quota for Muslims and STs comes through, it will take overall reservation in Telangana to 62%. This is possible only if the Centre gives the nod to include it in the 9th Schedule as in Tamil Nadu, where the total reservation is 69%.
The reservation policy in the country specifies a judicial cap which does not allow reservations to exceed 50%. It came into existence following the 1992 judgement of the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney Etc. Etc vs Union Of India And Others case.
Assuring his government's commitment in realising the proposed quota, the CM stated, "For me, it's not a new thing to start a movement. We will definitely employ all the strategies at our disposal to achieve reservations for backward Muslims and STs.”
While both announcements in the assembly attracted thumping praise from All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) lawmakers, BJP called it appeasement politics and Congress questioned the commitment of the ruling TRS towards achieving it.
Despite the CM's claim of Modi’s nod for the proposal, Telangana BJP said that the CM's announcement is misleading, as their party is against religion-based reservations and has questioned the decision of naming Urdu as the second official state language.
Speaking to TNM, Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said that the CM is lying in the heart of the assembly.
Terming KCR's claim of PM Modi's assurance as a "white lie”, he said, "How can CM put the Prime Minister above the constitution? It is an unwarranted act."
He added, "This is nothing but a pandering for Muslim votes, his government has no commitment towards uplifting the minorities.”
BJP also took strong exception to the government’s declaration of Urdu as the second language and said, “Out of 12% Muslims in Telangana, less than 3% speak and follow Urdu, we wonder why the government wants to splurge people’s money?”
He added, "This is nothing but a Jumla by the government.”
Meanwhile, Telangana state Congress party official spokesperson Dr Dasoju Sravan Kumar said, "Both CM KCR and his virtual political ally AIMIM don’t have any sincerity towards the cause of Muslim reservations.”
“During elections he promised the Muslims saying he would achieve it within four months, why has he failed to achieve it even after more than three years?”
“Why KCR found it important to address the minorities causees just ahead of the elections?”
While welcoming the decision of Urdu as a second official language, he said BJP is criticising the "Urdu" decision from very religious point of view.
“It has been an official language even before Telangana state was merged with Andhra Pradesh. Many Telugu-speaking families speak and follow Urdu and there is nothing wrong in it.”