Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said that implementation of a sub-plan for Backward Classes (BC) communities will be a difficult proposition but his government will try to pursue it sincerely.
Speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Jyothirao Phule, a social reformer who worked against caste system, the Chief Minister said the State government had increased budget for BC welfare to Rs. 4,027 crore from Rs. 3,000 crore last year. It would be much larger than SC/ST Sub-Plans if all other schemes being implemented for BCs were taken into consideration, he noted.
On the increase of power tariff, the Chief Minister said the Opposition parties had taken to streets only on behalf of 3 lakh consumers in the State who would consume over 500 units a month. There was little or no increase for those who utilise less than 500 units a month, he stated. Minister for Transport and PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana said he would continue to pursue for a sub-plan to BCs with the Chief Minister.
Police presence
Meanwhile, a large number of police personnel were deployed at the venue suspecting trouble between BC groups owing allegiance to AP State BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah and Minister for BC Welfare Baswaraju Saraiah. However, the meeting concluded without any problem. Sources said the two had differences over the selection of Phule’s birth fete committee convenor this year. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment P. Balram Naik, Ministers Ponnala Lakshmaiah, D. Sridhar Babu, G. Prasad Kumar, Danam Nagender and others spoke.
