“Laying the Foundation: TPCC’s Committee Initiates Deliberations on Minority Inclusion”
Hyderabad, August 22: Congress Party Launches Outreach to Connect with Minorities Ahead of Telangana Assembly Elections In a strategic move aimed at garnering support from minorities for the upcoming Assembly elections, the Congress party has initiated a substantial outreach effort across the state of Telangana. This decision was reached during the inaugural meeting of the ‘Minorities Declaration Committee,’ which convened at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday. The committee, headed by TPCC PAC Convener and former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, assembled prominent members including AICC Incharge Manikrao Thakre, AICC Secretary Mansoor Ali Khan, TPCC Senior Vice-President Zafar Javeed, and other committee members.
During a media briefing following the meeting, Shabbir Ali disclosed that the committee conducted a comprehensive deliberation for approximately three hours, focusing on diverse issues concerning the minority population. He emphasized that the Muslim reservation of 4% and other welfare programs that were introduced during the previous Congress administration have positively impacted over 20 lakh economically disadvantaged Muslim families since 2005-06. However, Shabbir Ali expressed concern that the progress in minority welfare came to a halt following the ascent of the TRS to power in 2014.
Shabbir Ali pointed a finger at Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, alleging a deliberate neglect of minority welfare by cutting funds and resources and diminishing minority representation across governmental bodies as part of a larger scheme. He highlighted that while there were six Muslim Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) during the Congress regime, that number dwindled to only one under the KCR regime. Furthermore, he highlighted the absence of Muslim representation among the 11 Vice-Chancellors and within the Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC).
The Minorities Declaration Committee, as per Shabbir Ali’s statements, plans to engage with Muslim and Christian religious organizations, professionals, minority institution leaders, civil society members, and other stakeholders. The committee aims to gather input from these groups to create a comprehensive draft declaration. Notably, key points from this declaration will be integrated into the party’s manifesto. To facilitate public input, the committee will establish a dedicated email address and WhatsApp number. Additionally, a special desk will be established at Gandhi Bhavan to receive in-person representations from various groups and individuals.
Highlighting the previous Congress administration’s achievements, Shabbir Ali mentioned the successful implementation of schemes such as Fee Reimbursement and Scholarships that empowered minority communities. However, he asserted that the KCR Government abandoned these welfare initiatives and propagated a misleading narrative about minority welfare. He further emphasized that the allocated budget for minority welfare remained underutilized, leading to the discontinuation of several programs aimed at the economic and educational upliftment of minorities.
While Shabbir Ali refrained from specifying an exact deadline, he suggested that the draft of the Minorities’ Declaration is expected to be ready by the end of the current month. Notably, the unveiling of the declaration is anticipated to take place the following month, featuring the presence of prominent leaders from the AICC.
