BJP, Congress question Telangana CM's proposal on IT corridor for Muslims

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress questioned Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's proposal on an exclusive industrial estate and IT corridor for Muslims in the state, while also accusing him of resorting to vote bank and appeasement politics.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that Rao had asked officials to look into the possibility of setting up an exclusive industrial estate and IT corridor for Muslims in the state.

Retorting at the chief minister, BJP leader Krishna Sagar Rao said he was trying to swing both ways to garner votes of both Hindus and Muslims.

"CM Rao is the master of appeasement and that is what is happening after he was elected. After swearing in, the man has just done appeasement and nothing more. Specially Muslim appeasement in the form of 12 per cent reservation, which didn't go through, now corporation loans with no condition which might not go through as well because there are no funds basically," BJP leader told ANI.

He further said the deception of the Muslim community through appeasement politics of Chief Minister Rao was dismal to the lowest level possible in the politics of India.

"The height of absurdity is the IT corridor for Muslims. Has anyone across the country saw an IT corridor for a religion? Rao has to define that. The BJP takes a strong objection to the dismal, downright, petty, minority vote bank politics of Rao," he added.

Congress leader Poonam Prabhakar also echoed similar sentiment and said the chief minister was using the Muslims for their political gain, adding they were ready for discussion.

"Before the elections, Rao had claimed to give 12 per cent reservation to the Muslims, but did nothing even after three-and-a-half years of his tenure. And now again to garner Muslim votes he called upon the Muslim leaders and promised to give this and that. Don't trust his words. He has made fake promises and done nothing. We are ready for discussion," he told ANI.

Prabhakar also demanded the KCR Government to give the record of work it has done for Muslim community in the last three-and-a-half years and asked to rethink the current proposal.

The Chief Minister had held a high-level review meeting on Monday to discuss minorities welfare.

The CMO officials, however, said that there was no specific plan yet to set up an exclusive IT corridor for minorities but the Chief Minister suggested to officials to see if it was feasible.