Telangana: BJP raking up Muslim quota issue to polarise voters in Munugode bypoll, says Congress leader Shabbir Ali

HYDERABAD: Former minister and Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir has sought the intervention of the Election Commission of India to restrain and take action against union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy and others as it is a violation of is also it is a violation of the model code of conduct in the by-poll bound Munugode assembly constituency.
Also, 4% Muslim reservation issue is being heard by the Supreme Court as a result the matter is sub-judice.
A formal complaint has been sent to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar seeking action against the union minister. "Several BJP leaders are openly violating the model code of conduct by delivering provocative speeches during the campaign in the by-poll bound Munugode Assembly constituency, '' he said.
Kishan Reddy addressed a series of meetings in the last few days where he deliberately raised the issue of 4 percent Muslim reservation and promised the voters that if BJP is voted to power, the central government would scrap the 4% quota in jobs and education for socially and economically backward classes among Muslims and distribute the same among other castes, Shabbir Ali stated in his complaint to the ECI.
Shabbir Ali, along with TPCC minorities city cell chairman Sameer Waliullah condemned Kishan Reddy and other BJP leaders’ statement that against four per cent Muslim quota. The Muslim quota issue is presently being heard by a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, headed by chief justice of India U.U. Lalit.
"Union Minister Kishan Reddy's comments on Muslim reservation not only amount to contempt of court, but they also violate the model code of conduct wherein the BJP leader is trying to lure voters by provoking them based on religion. Although the Muslim voters constitute only 3 to 4% of the total electors in the Munugode constituency, the BJP leader is trying to polarise the elections by giving it a Hindu-Muslim twist," he said.
It is the duty of one and all to show some respect to the Supreme Court and trust its wisdom on sensitive matters like the 4% Muslim quota which is related to lakhs of poor people, he said.
Stating that that the 4% Muslim quota was implemented by the then Congress government in 2004-05 based on the recommendations of the Backward Classes Commission report, he said BJP is in power at the centre. It need not wait for the next elections to increase the quota for BCs, SCs or STs. It has all the powers to bring legislation in the Parliament to increase the quota for all these communities in proportion to their population across the country, including Telangana.
Shabbir Ali said that the BJP has sensed a humiliating defeat in the Munugode by-elections. Therefore, as a last resort, he said BJP has been trying to polarise the Munugode by-polls by raising Hindu-Muslim rhetoric.