The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ordinance to replace GO on Muslim quota

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ordinance to replace GO on Muslim quota

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 23. Floor leaders of all parties met here on Friday to discuss the legal hurdles in the implementation of 5 per cent reservation quota for minorities and seek a way out.

It was agreed upon to effect the GO through an ordinance if the final judgement went against it. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, called the meeting in the light of the stay order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday.

Later talking to the media, Dr. Reddy ridiculed the criticism that the GO was drafted in haste. Giving a clean chit to the officials concerned, he said that there was no dereliction of duty on the part of the bureaucracy and no one had acted in haste. No irregularities were committed, he said.

He said the Government was committed to the welfare of minorities and would not hesitate to implement its promises. There would be no problems even if the overall reservations crossed the 50 per cent limit. The Tamil Nadu Government was implementing 68 per cent reservations through proper legislation, he said, assuring the minorities that if the legal hurdles prevented the GO from being implemented a Bill would replace it.

Dr. Reddy felt the courts might only delay the process but the Government was prepared to consider the suggestions and strengthen the GO provisions, if necessary.

BJP against legislation

He said except the BJP, all other parties were in favour of the Bill in such an eventuality.

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy defended his Government's move to favour reservations for minorities as a social obligation rather than an appeasement policy. "It is not a reservation based on religious considerations as being claimed by the BJP. Our aim is to pave way for social justice. There are also demands within the Muslim minority for safeguarding their interests. There are several sub-sects among them. Let us look into all facets," he said.

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