Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s unsolicited bonanza for Muslims on the occasion of Ramzan festival has not been taken kindly by the Congress party.
The Telangana Congress leaders accused KCR of diverting the attention of Muslim community from the real issues by announcing various sops for holy month of Ramzan.
TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday alleged that KCR was trying to hoodwink Muslims by offering Iftar dinner, free clothes and other sops for Ramzan.
"Spending Rs 26 crore on Ramzan is okay, but what about his promise of providing 12% reservations to Muslims in education and employment?” they asked.
They pointed out that the KCR government did not spend even 15 per cent of Rs 1100 crore budget allocated for Minorities’ welfare during the first quarter.
"Not a single rupee has been spent for Shaadi Mubarak and other welfare schemes. Instead of taking up the real welfare, KCR is cheating the Muslims by organising Iftar dinners," he said.
Shabbir Ali accused KCR of trying to humiliate the Muslim community. "Is he trying to give us 'Khairaat' (Alms)? KCR has insulted the entire Muslim community by offering a meagre Rs 1,000 monthly salary to Imams, who enjoy highest respect in Islam.
He recalled that a similar attempt made by then Congress Government in 2004-05 to pay Rs 5,000 per month salary to Imams was rejected by the Muslim Personal Law.
He said KCR cannot take unilateral decisions on matters involving religion and religious sentiments.
