'Why Include Religious Minorities': BRS Says Congress 'Declaration' On Caste Census Will Cause Rifts

K T Rama Rao said that the idea to 'include minorities in the backward classes census' will harm both the backward classes and minorities.

Telangana Minister K. T. Rama Rao.

Source : PTI

Attacking the Congress over its'minority declaration' for the Telangana Assembly elections, the governing BRS said on Friday that the Congress' plan to conduct caste census and include minorities with backward classes for the sake of quota will cause a schism between the two parties, news agency PTI reported. BRS Working President K T Rama Rao cited the 'minority declaration' as stating: "conduct caste census within six months and ensure fair reservation for all backward classes, including minorities, in jobs, education, and government welfare schemes."

He said that the idea to 'include minorities in the backward classes census' will harm both the backward classes and minorities.

If minorities are admitted in BCs, the backward classes would claim that the former are stealing their reserve, causing a schism, he warned reporters.

He claims that if a census is undertaken and all Muslims are classified as BCs, there will be no need for a separate minorities welfare ministry, minorities commission, or any other minority entity.

The BJP talks about 'pasmanda (backward) Muslims,' and the Congress proclamation appears to be tied to the BJP's philosophy, he claims.

"Why are they including religious minorities that have been recognised by the Constitution of India in the caste census. They are unnecessarily mixing up things and creating unrest which is not desirable for the society," Rama Rao, son of CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, was quoted by PTI in its report.

According to him, the Congress' track record is so dismal that over Rs 900 crore was spent on minorities' welfare in Telangana between 2004 and 2014, while the party was in power in undivided Andhra Pradesh, whereas Rs 10,140 crore was spent under the BRS administration since 2004.

Referring to the Congress's release of a 'BC proclamation' on Friday, Rama Rao questioned why the Congress did not develop a separate ministry for OBC welfare when it was in power at the Centre from 2004 to 2014.

KCR, who was a Union Minister at the time, said he met with then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2004 and suggested the formation of an OBC welfare ministry.

The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to appoint a BC as Chief Minister if they won power in Telangana, but they failed to establish an OBC welfare ministry, he added.

If won in the November 30 Assembly elections, the Telangana Congress has promised to boost the budget for minority welfare by up to Rs 4,000 crore per year, as well as to undertake the caste census within six months of taking office.

According to the "Minority Declaration" issued on Thursday, it would provide fair reservation for all backward classes, including minorities, in jobs, education, and government projects.