Hyderabad: Stating that the ongoing 4% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education in the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was the result of a long and hard struggle, Muslim leaders vowed to do what all it takes to protect the quota and thanked every individual and organization who played a role in getting it.
Former minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Saturday evening organized a condolence meeting in memory of former IAS officer P.S. Krishnan who passed away on November 10. Addressing the meeting, Shabbir Ali recalled the services of Late Krishnan towards the cause of Muslim reservation. He said it was Krishnan’s report which acted as a base for categorization of socially and economically backward classes Muslims in a separate category BC-E. It was on his recommendation that the reservation percentage for Muslims was reduced from 5% to 4% to avoid the legal complications as the Supreme Court had imposed a 50% ceiling on quota.
Shabbir Ali said that the then Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy Government has hired the services of PS Krishnan to prepare a ‘Report on Identification of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes in the Muslim Community of Andhra Pradesh’. He submitted the report in June 2007 and the same report served as the basis for the creation of a new category BC-E to include 14 socially and economically backward classes among Muslims which subsequently resulted in a 4% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education. He said Krishnan was nearly 76 years old when he was hired as Advisor. However, he said Krishnan was so active and dedicated to the cause that he rarely missed any hearing in the court. He used to follow all the hearings pertaining to 4% reservation in the High Court and also in the Supreme Court. He used to take notes and give necessary suggestions to our legal teams.
The Congress leader said Krishnan’s personality was highly inspiring and his skills of drafting official documents were exemplary.
Rich tributes were also paid to former Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, ex-Solicitor General Ghulam Hussain Essaji Vahanvati and others.
The gathering also prayed for the health and speedy recovery of former IAS officer Jannat Hussain who played a key in getting a reservation for Muslims. The meeting was also addressed by Sultan-ul-Uloom Society Secretary Zafar Javeed, former minister Asif Pasha, Madina Education Society Secretary K.M. Arifuddin and many prominent academicians from across the State.(NSS)