‘BC Muslims deserve their due share in power’

Metro India News | Hyderabad  

BC Muslims should receive political representation, educational opportunities and employment benefits in proportion to their population, said Dr J. Poornachandra Rao, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police and National Coordinator of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party (AIBSP).

Addressing a State-level BC Muslim convention at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad, Dr Rao said several Muslim communities in Telangana have been officially recognised as socially, educationally and economically backward classes but continue to face discrimination in political representation and power-sharing. Citing Bahujan leader Kanshi Ram’s principle of “Jitni Sankhya Bhari, Utni Hissedari” (representation in proportion to population), he said social justice can be achieved only when communities receive their fair share in governance based on their population strength.

Dr Rao noted that BC Muslims account for nearly 10 per cent of Telangana’s population but do not have a single representative in the State Assembly. He said this imbalance reflects the continued exclusion of backward communities from decision-making bodies. Calling for corrective measures, he urged political parties to ensure population-based representation for BC Muslims in elections, legislative institutions, local bodies, corporations and nominated posts.

He also demanded stronger constitutional protection for BC reservations, greater opportunities in education and employment, and fair implementation of welfare schemes. Dr Rao lauded the felicitation of 150 BC Muslim sarpanches at the convention, saying grassroots leadership would strengthen Bahujan empowerment and help achieve greater social and political participation. Several BC Muslim and Bahujan leaders attended the programme.