KCR seeks Modi’s nod for Muslim quota

​New Delhi: Keeping his word on the Muslim reservations, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday to accord constitutional status to the proposed 12 per cent (BC) (E) reservations.

KCR reportedly explained to the Prime Minister that the reservations were not being provided on religious basis but on the basis of socio-economic backwardness and, hence, ought to be supported. KCR spent about one-and-a-quarter hour with the PM at his residence on Monday morning to raise several pending issues.

Disclosing to the PM that the Telangana Assembly had passed the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in the service under the State) Bill, 2017, KCR fervently appealed to the PM to include the amendment to the IX Schedule of the Constitution. KCR urged Modi not to discriminate against Telangana in this regard as the Centre could not have different policies for different States referring to the Tamil Nadu example).

Detailing the discussions the Telangana Chief Minister had with the Prime Minister, TRS MP B Vinod Kumar said that KCR had said that it was time the Centre kept its word and allowed it by bringing the necessary changes to the Constitution for SC categorisation.

Last time when the Telangana government referring the issue to the Centre, it was asked to "wait till the Assembly elections to UP and Uttarakhand are over", KCR reminded Modi. Now that the elections were over, the Centre should not delay taking up the issue, he urged.

KCR, according to Vinod Kumar, also urged the Prime Minister to speed up the process of bifurcating the High Court. Listing out his demands during his interaction with him, KCR complained against the delay in the process and sought to know the rationale behind the delay.

Telangana Chief Minister also is said to have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exempt agricultural-related and depended trades from the income-tax as is done with the agriculture sector. He felt that by giving IT exemption to the trades and professions connected to the agriculture sector, people living on these trades will be benefited the most. He wanted an Act to be passed in this regard.

“There are several professions; trades solely depended on agriculture sector in villages. Several BC communities are living on these professions. Sheep-rearers, fishermen, weavers, washermen, hairdressers and other occupations are virtually eking out a living out of their family professions.

They are doing highly laborious work and some of them are also in artistic work. Taxing the income that they are getting is not justified. Giving exemption to these professions and trades will help and support these people in a big way.

Not only people in these hereditary professions will get help but it also strengthens the rural economy. In our State, we are encouraging sheep-rearing, fisheries and other such professions. We have allocated huge funds in Budget. In future, thousands of crores worth business will take place through these hereditary professions. These people will become economically strong. Such hardworking people should not be taxed,” the Chief Minister opined.

He also detailed the irrigation projects undertaken by the Telangana government in the last three years and sought National Project status for either Palamur project or Kaleswaram project as promised. Release of pending funds, including tax dues was the other issue he raised.

Later in his meeting with Union Law Ministry Ravishankar Prasad, KCR sought amendments to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 which had become a stumbling block in procuring land for projects. He sought that the state governments be allowed to effect changes to the same. The Union Minister reportedly assured action in this regard.

He brought to the notice of Ravishankar Prasad the pending issue of the High Court bifurcation and asked him to clear the legal hurdles in the way.