10th Class rule, if exempted for Thofa scheme, will be a setback for Muslims: Jagan

GUNTUR: Education serves the Muslim community well to achieve better living standards and excel in the competitive world, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday.

Participating in the Minority Welfare Day and National Education Day celebrations at Sri Venkateswara Vignan Mandiram here, marking the 135th birth anniversary of India's first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the Chief Minister said that the government had laid special focus on education sector and had made 10th standard mandatory to be eligible for Thofa scheme.

Referring to the appeal made for exempting Class X certificate for Muslims to avail Thofa scheme, he said: '"If the provision of Class X certificate is exempted for the scheme, there will be a setback. My intention is that Muslim students should study and compete with the world.'' Recalling the services of the country's first education minister Abul Kalam Azad, YS Jagan said that Azad's services were laudable. Former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the first to provide reservations for Muslims, he recalled.

"'If Rajasekhara Reddy took one step forward for the welfare of minorities, I will take two steps forward. I am proud to be the son of a great leader. We have given the post of Deputy Chief Minister to a minority leader besides nominating four others as MLCs. Also, the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council was allotted to a minority woman,'' Jagan said.

Giving an account of minority welfare activities initiated by his government, the Chief Minister said that Rs 10,309 crore was given to the minorities through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in the last three years. While another Rs 10,000 crore was also given to the minorities through non-DBT.

"During his tenure, former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has given Rs 2,665 crores to the minorities in five years. Within three years, our government has spent over Rs 20,000 crores for the welfare of the minorities," he said. Referring to the protection of alienated Waqf properties in the state, YS Jagan said that measures were being taken over the issue of Waqf properties in the state and so far 580 acres of alienated land out of a total of 65,783 acres was given back to the Waqf Board.

The Chief Minister felicitated people with cash awards and mementos for their work for the development of education sector and Urdu language. Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha, Guntur East MLA Mustafa and others participated in the event.