Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate steps to bring an amendment to the Constitution to provide reservations exclusively for the Muslims.
In a letter to the prime minister, Dr Reddy said that the state government has been advocating the cause of the Muslims and, accordingly, enacted a legislation to provide five per cent reservations to Muslims in education and public employment. However, the Andhra Pradesh high court, citing legal technicalities, struck the Act down.
The state government then approached the Supreme Court. Now, it has cited the report by the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee and said it's stand is clearly vindicated.
Meanwhile, Dr Reddy has cleared a proposal for a centre to provide training and guidance to meritorious minority youth both in civil services and other higher echelons.
About 60 students -- of which 30 per cent will be girls -- will be selected for intensive coaching.
Besides, the proposed centre will focus primarily on imparting intensive coaching and guidance to minority youth hailing from families that are below the poverty line.
Osmania University's vice-chancellor has been asked to provide a piece of land.
The Minority Welfare Department and the Centre for Educational Development of Minorities will give Rs 1 crore for this.
