Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strong opposition to Muslim reservation for jobs, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has said that it will not stop it Andhra Pradesh.
In an interview with NDTV, TDP national general secretary and party supremo Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh said that Muslim job reservation in Andhra Pradesh had been going on for over two decades and the party stands by it.
“It (reservation for Muslims) has been going around for the last 2 decades and we stand by it. We intend to continue it,” he said.
The TDP won 16 Lok Sabha seats out of 25 in recently concluded Lok Sabha election and played a key role in BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning the elections. The BJP and Jana Sena Party as part of the alliance won 3 and 2 Parliamentary seats, while the outgoing YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) secured 4.
Lokesh said that TDP’s focus will be creating jobs and uplifting marginalised people in Andhra Pradesh.
‘Reservation is not appeasement’
The TDP general secretary told NDTV that the Muslim reservation was not meant for appeasement. “It is social justice as most Muslims in the state have a low per capita income.”
“It’s a fact that the minorities continue to suffer and that they have the lowest per capita income. As a government, it is my responsibility to bring them out of poverty. So whatever decisions I take are not for appeasement, but to bring them out of poverty. If you want to make India a developed nation, we can’t leave anyone behind. It has been a trademark of TDP to take everyone together,” Lokesh added.
‘Did not seek Speaker’s post‘
The TDP leader also dismissed report that TDP has sought the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post as part of their alliance with the BJP. “We don’t negotiate for posts, we negotiate for funds for the state. We don’t ask for ministries. Our interest is the state’s interest,” he added.
“Strong states make strong nations. We want to be part of a 5 trillion dollar economy dream. We believe that Andhra alone can be a 1 trillion economy. Look forward to working with NDA,” he added.
It is noteworthy to mention that BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strongly opposed the Muslim reservation in it Lok Sabha election campaign, calling it minority appeasement.
