Congress ridicules CM's meetings on BC welfare

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan has alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao was enacting a 'new drama' in the name of welfare of Backward Classes.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday, Sravan ridiculed the meetings on BC welfare which are going on for the last three days. He alleged that TRS had cheated SCs and STs in 2014 elections by making fake promises. This time, KCR is targeting BCs, he alleged that the meetings on BC welfare were part of a larger conspiracy to lure innocent BC voters towards the ruling party. He said no steps were taken by the TRS Government during the last three-and-a-half years to increase the BC quota in proportionate to their 52% population. He said if KCR was serious, then he should announce 52% reservation for BCs. Similarly, he said equal opportunities should be given to BCs in all spheres of life, especially in education and jobs.

Sravan said eminent BC leaders like Konda Laxman Bapuji, Prof. Jayashankar, Srikanth Chary and constable Krishnaiah have played a major role in Telangana formation. However, BCs remained neglected under TRS regime. He said if KCR was so serious about BC empowerment, then he should make a BC the president of TRS. Further, he said BCs should be given 50% representation in State Cabinet and there should be nine ministers. Similarly, KCR should announce 52% tickets for BC candidates in 2019 elections. While the proposal for giving reservation for BCs in legislative bodies is pending with the Centre for legislator, KCR should implement 52% quota while giving tickets for MLAs and MLCs post and other nominated posts in corporations. He alleged that three BC ministers - Etala Rajender, Jogu Ramanna and Talasani Srinivas Yadav have been reduced to rubber stamps in KCR regime.

The Congress leader said KCR has already cheated SCs by not implementing the promise of making a Dalit CM and three acres of land for each family. He also duped Muslims and STs on the promise of 12% reservation in jobs and education. Therefore, his promises on BC welfare would not be taken seriously by the BC communities. He said KCR has lost people's trust due to his fake promises and whatever he is promising for BCs would remain unimplemented.

Sravan said after coming to power, TRS Government had promised to spend Rs. 25,000 crore on BC welfare in five years. So far, four budgets have been presented. Therefore, an amount of Rs. 20,000 crore should have been spent. However, he said so far, the government had spent an amount of only Rs. 6,726 Crore. Giving the break-up, he said Rs. 2,022 Cr were spent in 2014-15; Rs. 2,172 Cr in 2015-16 and Rs. 2,532 Cr in 2016-17. He said despite promising Rs. 1,000 crore for BC Corporation, not a single rupee has been released in 2016-17 or 2017-18. Similarly, he said no funds were released were for Most Backward Classes Corporation or any of 11 BC Federations.

The Congress leader said BC students were badly hurt due to delay in clearing Fee Reimbursement and Scholarship dues. He said thousands of BC students were forced to discontinue their studies due to negligent attitude of TRS Government. Similarly, he said a majority of farmers in Telangana who committed suicide belonged to BC communities.

Sravan said instead of making tall promises, TRS Government should come up with statistics on how it is treating the BCs in the State. He asked KCR to disclose figures of BC staff at the senior level in Chief Minister's Office, Secretariat, Principal Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Station House Officers in Police Department and other key posts.

Former MP M. Anjan Kumar Yadav, Mahila Congress president Nerella Sharada, TPCC Official spokespersons G. Niranjan, Sunitha Rao and Punna Kailash were also present.