Muslim Quota: CM asks Centre to file appeal

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday urged the central government to immediately file an appeal before the High Court to protect the interests of socially and educationally backward minority communities.In a letter to Union minister for law and justice Salman Khurshid, Kiran said he was concerned by the HC striking down the decision taken by the Centre to earmark 4.5 per cent sub- quota for minorities out of the 27 per cent OBC reservation.Reddy told Khurshid that the Andhra Pradesh government had by an Act, basing on the recommendations of the AP Commission for Backward Classes, included 14 socially and educationally backward communities among the Muslims in the state as a separate category called BC-E and provided them 4 per cent reservation within the 29 per cent quota provided to BCs in state.“These 14 communities, were not included in the central list of OBCs notified for AP.Necessary proposal has been sent to the National Commission for BCs and the ministry of social justice and empowerment for the inclusion of the 14 Muslim communities as minorities to be covered under the 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities,” the chief minister said.