Kolishetty Venkateshwarlu
venkat.k.warlu@gmail.com
Hyderabad
The TG Congress Government did injustice to the BCs in Telangana by including Muslims in the BCs’ list, Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy said.
He made it clear that the Centre will not include Muslims in the list of BCs under any circumstance. However, the caste census would be conducted as per the constitution.
Kishan replied to the question that Congress leaders thanked the Governor, saying that he had approved the 42 per cent BC Reservations Bill in which Muslims are included, and the same has been sent to the President.
“The Telangana High Court made it clear that reservations based on religion are against constitutional norms. If the state wants to give it, then it is up to it. The Centre has not approved a single Bill that included Muslims in the BCs’ list for reservations after the Supreme Court verdict. However, earlier it had happened,” Kishan said.
Addressing the media at the state BJP office here on Saturday, Kishan reiterated that the Congress Government has done only a caste survey and not a caste census and that too was a namesake job.
However, the Centre has taken up the caste census as per law along with the population census.
He said that the Centre will conduct a caste census along with the population census by going to every person and every house, including those in remote areas.
“The BJP has never opposed the caste census. However, the BJP opposed including Muslims in the BCs’ list. We supported caste surveys in and outside the Assembly. The Centre has taken a historic, sensational, constructive decision to conduct a caste census next year for the first time in the country, ensuring justice for all social groups. The caste census is taking place for the first time after attaining freedom. The Congress never conducted a caste census even though the people gave it many chances to rule the country,” Kishan said.
He said that former Union Minister, the late Sushma Swaraj, had sent a letter to the Congress-led UPA government about the need for a caste census, but they did not do it. He said that it is the first census after the BJP came to power.
Replying to a question, Kishan said the Centre has not weakened MGNREGA. The Centre is ready to give funds if it increases work days and workers, he said, alleging that the state government is not doing that.
“BRS leaders are speaking as they like. One BRS leader (KCR) is in a retirement mood. Another leader (T. Harish Rao) is on leave. The third one (KTR) is also on leave with a broken back,” he said.
