Hyderabad:

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said the government was committed to uplifting Muslims in the state and has implemented several schemes, including four percent job reservation, for their benefit.

“Congress has increased the minority department funds from Rs 27 crore in 2004 to Rs 300 crore,” said Reddy, after receiving a research report on the socio-economic status of Andhra Pradesh Muslims by Abu Saleh Shariff, economist and former member secretary of the Sachar Committee. He said his government will examine the study report and try to implement it in order to uplift Muslims socially and economically. Shariff, who presented the report at a function attended by many prominent personalities, said Andhra Pradesh is a role model state in the country for Muslims but more could be done for the betterment of the community. MP and Majlias Itehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi stressed on the need to give Muslims a prominent position in decision making. “Muslims being the largest minority could contribute a lot in taking the nation forward. India cannot become a superpower without Muslim contribution,” he said.

MLA Akbarudin Owaisi, who is the leader of Majlis Legislature Party, said there was a need to protect and acquire Waqf properties, besides using it in a better way for the benefit of Muslims. All India Muslim Personnel Law Board (AIMPLB) assistant general secretary Abdul Rahim Qureshi, and other speakers, said the need of the hour was to instill confidence among Muslims.

source: http;//www.ibnlive.in / PTI, September 28th, 2011