After providing five per cent reservations in Government jobs and education, the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh is now contemplating political reservation for the Muslim minority.
The main opposition Telugu Desam party has also come out in support of the idea but said Muslims should not be clubbed with the backward classes and that they should be given separate five per cent reservations.
Debate on political reservations to the Muslim community is hotting up even as both the ruling Congress and the TDP are gearing themselves up for the next major trial of strength in the municipal elections. The elections, the first test of popularity since last year's Assembly polls, are likely to be held in September.
Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy told the public meeting in Adilabad district during his "Nagarabata" programme that the State Government was ready to give political reservations to Muslims. The Muslim community would be given five per cent reservations in local bodies, he said.
Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu told newsmen in Hyderabad that the Government's intention was doubtful and it may try to club Muslims along with the backward classes asking them to share existing 33 per cent reservations given to the backward classes in local bodies.
"We want Muslims to be given additional five per cent reservations without diluting the quota of the backward classes", he said.
Naidu, who discussed the issue at the TDP politburo meeting on Monday said the TDP had always been in favour of political reservations for the Muslim community as their representation in the local bodies has dwindled and very few of them were reaching the local bodies.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that the Constitution does not allow religion-based political reservation, Naidu said the backwardness of the Muslim community was a proven fact and on that basis only they were given five percent reservations in the jobs and education.
In case the Government makes up its mind to give five per cent reservation to Muslims, it will have to issue a fresh Government order on the lines of GO MS 18, which provides 5 per cent reservations to Muslims in Government jobs and education.
The constitutionality of this order
was questioned in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and the full bench of
the court has reserved its judgment on the issue.