HYDERABAD: AIMIM floor leader in the Legislative Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi on Monday lambasted the state government for neglecting the welfare of minorities and development of Old City. He demanded a rightful share in funds for the two saying that minorities comprise 14.25 per cent of the state's population of whom Muslims are highest at 12.75 per cent.
Participating in a short discussion on ‘Welfare of minorities in the state and developmental activities in the Old City of Hyderabad’ in the House, Owaisi asked whether minorities were not worth even saplings planted under Haritha Haram as the budget spent on the project was more than what has been spent on minorities in the last seven years.
“The state government has spent Rs 6,555 crore on Haritha Haram but only Rs 6,199 crore on the welfare of minorities since 2014-15. There is a huge variation between funds allocated and funds spent on minorities. The government statistics state that Rs 9,448 crore was allocated for minorities’ welfare but BROs (budget release orders) were released for Rs 7,773 crore while the actual amount spent was only Rs 6,199 crore," Owaisi said.
“Fee reimbursement and scholarship arrears of minority students are mounting. Final year students pursuing higher education courses are the worst-hit. Colleges have withheld their original certificates due to non-payment of full fees," he said.
He said the schemes initiated by the TRS government were good but their implementation was so haphazard that it was defeating the very purpose of those schemes.
Owaisi fumed that imams and muezzins in masjids were not paid salaries for the last six months. He wanted their salaries to be included in 'green channel' to ensure monthly payment.
Owaisi alleged discrimination against Old City, which has no IT towers or industries. He demanded the government to develop Maheshwaram and Shadnagar on par with Gachibowli. He said a large chunk of Wakf lands was being encroached upon but there has been no action against those involved in the fraud.
MA&UD minister K.T. Rama Rao strongly refuted the charges.
