Andhra parties support reservation for Muslims

All major political parties in Andhra Pradesh supported 4 per cent reservation for "socially and economically-backward" Muslims in jobs and education and hoped the Supreme Court would pave the way for it by staying the High Court verdict that nullified the quota.

The Andhra Assembly took up a short-duration discussion on the issue on Tuesday even as the Supreme Court, hearing a special leave petition filed by the state government, posted the case for March 25.

Telegu Desam Party member Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, Congress MLA Sheik Mastanvali, Praja Rajyam Party's B Sobha Nagi Reddy and Majlise-Ittehadul Musalameen floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi took part in the discussion and stressed on the need for providing reservation for socially and economically-backward Muslims in the state.

The discussion saw trading of charges between ruling Congress and main Opposition TDP with their members accusing each other of doing nothing for the welfare of Muslims. As the Congress MLA Mastanvali referred Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu by name, TDP members stormed the speaker's podium. Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar, who was in the Chair, ruled that nothing spoken out of context would go into the records. The TDP members returned to their seats only after Chief Minister K Rosaiah intervened and expressed regrets on behalf of the "two sides."