Hyderabad: The minority welfare budget in Telangana remained underutilised under both the previous BRS government and the present Congress administration, despite repeated announcements and allocations, raising concerns over poor implementation.
During the BRS regime, large portions of the minority welfare budget went unspent, while the Minority Finance Corporation remained largely inactive. Although the Congress government announced higher allocations after assuming office, expenditure patterns showed little change. Instead, officials continued to focus on policy declarations rather than measurable delivery.
Political observers noted that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen consistently aligned with ruling parties in the state. The party initially opposed Telangana’s formation and raised slogans such as “Royal Telangana.” However, after statehood, AIMIM supported the BRS government for nearly a decade and remained part of the ruling arrangement throughout that period.
In the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections, AIMIM leaders sharply criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and accused him of ideological proximity to the RSS. However, after the Congress victory, the same leaders were seen engaging closely with the Chief Minister, reinforcing claims of power-oriented politics.
Minority welfare budget gaps persist on the ground
Despite claims of proximity to the government, several minority welfare commitments remained pending. Salary arrears for Imams and Muezzins were not cleared. The promised increase in honorarium from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 also remained unimplemented even after two years. In addition, Ramadan welfare measures, including gift distribution, failed to materialise.
The condition of Hyderabad’s Old City continued to attract criticism. Residents reported ongoing problems such as contaminated drinking water, weak public transport, poor school infrastructure, and damaged roads. No visible improvement was reported during the 10 years of BRS rule or the two years under the Congress government.
Critics argued that while AIMIM sought votes in other parts of the city, it failed to deliver tangible development in the Old City. They questioned the party’s accountability and pointed to a growing gap between political claims and ground realities.
With Ramadan approaching, minority groups demanded free electricity for mosques and dargahs, special budget allocations, and immediate action on long-pending welfare issues. Community leaders said minorities required concrete governance outcomes rather than continued political rhetoric.
