Awaaz plans to run campaign seeking 12% quota for Muslims

Hyderabad: Challenging the idea of organising iftar parties and distribution of clothes to poor in hundreds of mosques across the State, Awaaz decided to run a parallel campaign for allotting 12 per cent reservation to Muslims, which was promised by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao before coming to power. It has already started the campaign on social media with its memes on overlooking the core subject.

Even as the Minority Welfare Department is gearing up to organise 800 iftar parties across the State and to distribute 4 lakh Ramzan gift packets (clothing) by the end of May, the Awaaz, an NGO based in the city, will remind masses about the minority quota promised by the State. It has decided to stick 50,000 posters on wall across the city and distribute 1 lakh pamphlets in the same time. 

“We have been campaigning for the 12 per cent reservation and minority sub-plan ever since the matter was pushed under the carpet. This time we have not only decided to run a campaign on social media but also on ground in this holy month of Ramzan. Whoever takes part in Iftar party must understand that these are nothing but lollypops to divert attention of community from real issues,” said Mohammed Abbas, state general secretary, Awaaz.  

He alleged that in 2014, the community had voted to TRS as the KCR-led party had promised making their lives better. However, the government has done little in this direction. He said that passing a resolution in Assembly was not enough, as the matter should have been pursued systematically with the Centre. 

“Iftar parties will not help alleviate the poverty in the community. Rather this kind of sops during Ramzan was only alienating the community further as it appears to be appeasement for others,” he added.

It may be mentioned here that recently A K Khan, advisor to State government (Minority Welfare Department) has announced this year that there would be 800 iftar parties across the State in select mosques, which will be sponsored by the Department. Half of the mosques selected for the programme are in City and the programme will be overseen by the local Corporators, while in districts Collector will supervise. “For this Iftar parties Rs 1 lakh per mosque have been allocated,” he said.

BY Md Nizamuddin