Cong’s minority declaration soon, welfare on focus

Hyderabad: Congress’ ‘minority declaration’ is likely to be unveiled in September first week. Though it was proposed to be released on August 29, the committee, constituted to draft the welfare schemes the grand old party will offer to the minorities, if voted to power, and headed by party political affairs convenor and former minister Md Ali Shabbir, could not complete its consultation process with all the stakeholders. There is already a draft declaration for minorities and some important points from it are being placed before the stakeholders during the consultation process, seeking their suggestions. TPCC minorities state president Shaikh Abdullah Sohail, a member of the committee, said he would meet the heads of various Muslim and religious organisations to seek their opinion on the welfare schemes that could be included in the draft of the declaration. Besides Shabbir Ali and Abdullah Sohail, the committee comprises working president Mohammed Azharuddin, senior vice-president Zafar Javeed, Obaidullah Kotwal, Mohammed Faheem Qureshi and State Wakf Board former chairman Khusro Pasha Biyabani. The declaration is proposed to be unveiled by an AICC leader. The draft committee has also invited suggestions online and through post. Interested people could also submit their suggestions in person at Gandhi Bhavan.