Committed to social justice: Jagan

PNS | Vijayawada

Reaffirming his party’s commitment to social justice, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that Chandrababu had betrayed weaker sections for long and the ensuing elections will be TDP’s Waterloo. Addressing the mammoth ‘Jai Ho BC Mahasabha’ at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium here on Wednesday, he gave a clarion call for the party cadre to get into election mode and propagate the welfare activities being implemented by the government among the people, aiming to draw a contrast between the present and previous governments.

“Chandrababu and his band of feudals have been trying to stall various initiatives of the State government, from ‘three capitals’ to housing for the poor, through litigations and false propaganda,” the CM said. “The TDP chief has no guts to make a statement of contesting alone in the ensuing elections. Chandrababu is trying to cheat the BCs to overcome his failure to implement the assurances given to them.

“We set up a permanent BC Commission for the first time in the country,” he said.
Referring to the ‘injustice’ done to the BCs during the TDP tenure, he said that Chandrababu deceived the BCs by not fulfilling the promises made. “Meanwhile, we empowered BCs, SCs, STs and the minorities socially, economically and politically in tune with the BC Declaration held at Eluru in 2019,” he added.

BCs should teach a lesson to Chandrababu in the elections and remind him of the assurances given to them, the CM said.Highlighting the initiatives taken by the YSRCP for the welfare of BCs, he said BCs were no more backward classes, but they were ‘backbone classes’. Priority was given to financially weaker sections in the implementation of welfare schemes. Around Rs 3.19 lakh crore was spent for financial empowerment, 80 percent of which was spent on weaker sections.

During Chandrababu’s tenure, in 2018-19 the rate of increase in debt was 19 percent.
The annual budgets of 2018-19 and 2022-23 were almost similar, now the rate of increase in debt was 15 percent. People should think why there were no schemes during Chandrababu’s regime. The TDP chief’s policy was plunder, stash and devour.

The spirit of YSRCP manifesto was the welfare of BCs, SCs, STs and minorities, besides ensuring the implementation of Navratnas, he asserted.

“YSRCP has brought 50 percent reservation in nominated posts and works. On the other hand, the government is supporting the BCs through Amma Vodi and YSR Cheyutha schemes, while Jagananna Chedodu scheme is being implemented to support small traders. Around Rs 14,110 crore was distributed among the beneficiaries under Cheyuta scheme,” he said.

He emphasised that BCs were not iron boxes, sewing machines or tools, but they were backbone castes. During his tenure, Chandrababu never nominated a BC leader to the Rajya Sabha. But, the YSRCP government has given priority to SCs, STs and BCs in every step. Majority of the Rajya Sabha nominees were BCs. Four of the five Deputy CMs are from these communities. Out of 32 MLCs, 18 are BCs, SCs, STs or minorities. Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram and Council Chairman Moshen Raju belong to the weaker sections. BCs are the largest group among YSRCP’s 32 members in the Legislative Council. Around 67 percent of Mandal Parishad posts are held by SCs, STs, BCs and minorities, the Chief Minister said.

In the second phase of Cabinet expansion, 70 percent of ministers belonged to SCs, STs, BCs and minorities. Similar is the case with the 117 marketing committee chairpersons in the State. Out of 84 municipal chairpersons, 44 are these groups, besides 79 of the total 137 corporation chairpersons. As many as 76 out of 196 agriculture marketing committee chairpersons also belong to BCs, he said.

Around 58 percent of the 137 chairman posts in government corporations are held by BCs, SCs, STs and minorities. They also hold 86 percent of the mayor posts and 58 percent of the 484 director posts. Out of the 1.30 lakh employees in the village secretariats, 84 percent belong to backward classes and minorities. Around 84 percent of the 30 lakh house titles have been given to them, he said.

Ministers Seediri Appala Raju, Gummanur Jayaram, Jogi Ramesh, Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao, Usha Sri Charan, Vidudala Rajini and Ch Venugopala Krishna, MLCs Pothula Sunitha and Janga Krishna Murthy, Rajya Sabha members R Krishnaiah and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Rajahmundry MP Margani Bharat, MLAs Kolusu Parthasarthy and K Anil Kumar Yadav and AP Legislative Assembly Speaker Tammineni Seetaram also spoke on the occasion.