Telangana: Congress slams TRS govt for ‘harassing’ Muslim officials

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Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali rebuked senior IAS officer and Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Syed Omer Jaleel for not consulting him while appointing in-charge CEO of Wakf Board. He asked as to how he could take his own decisions without even consulting him. He said he got information through newspapers on appointment of Prof. S A Shukoor as in-charge after the CEO, Mohammed Asadullah, went on long leave. Omer Jaleel told the Deputy CM that as the Competent Authority of Wakf Board he was empowered to appoint an in-charge CEO. But Mahmood Ali did not appear convinced with Jaleel’s clarification and said that he was not being consulted although he is the Deputy CM. However, the Deputy CM who holds Revenue, Stamps and Rehabilitation portfolios does not hold the Minorities Welfare portfolio which is held by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao.

“Incidents like these are forcing Muslim officials to go on leave or request for transfer,’’ Syed Nizamuddin said.

“TRS ministers and leaders were using intimidation and humiliation as a tool to harass Muslim officials in the State Government. He said that their behaviour towards senior officials clearly shows the lack of seriousness of TRS Government towards Minorities Welfare Department. TRS government did not spend even 50 per cent of amounts allocated in budgets of 2014-15 and 2015-16 for minorities’ welfare. This year too, the spending is not adequate. The major reason cited for non-spending of budget was inadequate staff in Minorities Welfare Department. Instead of filling up vacant posts, the TRS Government is trying to shoo away existing efficient officials from the MWD,’’ he said.

Nizamuddin also expressed concern over Prof. Shukoor being assigned the additional responsibility of Wakf Board CEO. “Prof. Shukoor is already holding five major posts. He is the Professor and Head of the Urdu Department in Nizam College, Director of Centre for Educational Development of Minorities, Secretary and Director of AP State Urdu Academy, General Secretary of Idara-e-Adabiyat-e-Urdu and Special Officer of State Haj Committee. It is incorrect on the part of the government to burden a teacher with six major responsibilities. It should depute more number of senior officials in the MWD,” he said.