Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has commented on the recent caste survey report presented in the Assembly, stating that the population in the state—including the Muslim community—is showing signs of stabilization.
In an interview with The Hindu, he addressed the slight decline in the Muslim population recorded in the survey compared to the findings of the G. Sudhir Committee (set up by the previous Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government). The committee had reported that Muslims made up 12.68% of Telangana’s population, while the latest caste survey recorded it at 12.56%.
Survey Details and Findings
Revanth Reddy explained that the survey was based on data voluntarily provided by the people and covered 3.54 crore individuals. Unlike the previous Samagra Kutumba Survey, which categorized people into BC, SC, ST, and OC, the new survey introduced a fifth category to separate Muslim BCs and Muslim OCs.
- Muslim OCs: 2.48%
- Muslim BCs: 10.08%
He emphasized that the entire process was closely monitored and supervised to ensure accuracy.
Decline in Fertility Rates
The CM also linked the declining Muslim population growth to national trends. He referred to India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which showed a drop in the total fertility rate of Muslims from 2.6 to 2.3. He pointed out that this demographic shift was reflected in Telangana’s caste survey data as well.
Political Allegations and Counterattacks
With elections approaching in the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates’ Constituency, Reddy addressed various political accusations:
- BJP-BRS Alleged Deal: He dismissed claims that his party, Congress, had an understanding with the BJP. Instead, he accused BRS (formerly TRS) and BJP of having a secret alliance.
- ED Cases Against BRS Leaders: He highlighted that while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had taken up cases against BRS leaders, no further action was taken, raising questions about BJP’s intentions.
- Delhi Visits for State Development: In response to criticism over his frequent trips to Delhi, Reddy clarified that his visits were focused on securing funds for Telangana and negotiating lower interest rates on loans taken by the previous government.
Reservation for Muslim BCs
Revanth Reddy also criticized Union Minister Bandi Sanjay for opposing reservations for Muslim BCs. He pointed out that even in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, Muslim BCs enjoy reservations—with 29 sub-castes included in the BC category.