Opposition stages walk out over SC, ST Commissions

Hyderabad : Opposition parties Congress, BJP and TDP staged a walk out from the Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Friday over TRS Government's failure to constitute Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commissions.

Replying to a question raised by TDP member Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and others during Question Hour, SC Development Minister Jagadish Reddy said that the State Government already took the initiative to create two separate Commissions for SCs and STs and referred the subject to Central Government for advice/remarks as per Articles 338 (9) of Constitution of India. Soon after the receipt of advice/remarks from the Centre, he said further action would be taken in this regard.

Jagadish Reddy said there used to be a single commission for SCs and STs in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. However, he said Telangana Government wanted separate Commissions for both the communities. He dismissed the allegations that present government failed to constitute the commission during the last three-and-a-half years. He said the Commissioner was not in existence since 2010. He said he would personally visit New Delhi to make representation with the Centre on this.

Not satisfied with the minister's reply, the Congress, BJP and TDP members staged a walk out from the House.

Earlier, while speaking on the issue, Congress MLA A. Sampath Kumar said that the non-presence of Commission has created a sense of insecurity among SCs and STs in the State.