KCR seeks PM’s help for Assent to ST, Minorities quota Bill

Also seeks hike in number of Assembly constituencies

Pending issues: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in getting the Presidential assent for the Bill passed by Telangana Assembly enhancing the reservations for Muslims and STs to 12% and 10 % respectively.

At his 15 minute meeting with Mr. Modi in New Delhi, Mr. Rao also requested the former to take steps to enhance the seats of the Assembly from 119 to 153. He wanted Bison Polo Ground which is a defence land for construction of the State Secretariat and permission to take up express highway along the defence lands en route to Karimnagar.

Bifurcation of HC

He also wanted immediate bifurcation of High Court and invited Mr. Modi for World Investors Forum conference in Hyderabad in November, sources said.

At his meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier, Mr. Rao sought notification for the enhancement in the limit of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management which was permitted with respect to Telangana.

The pending grant of ₹450 crore under backward areas development programme should be released, the CM requested.

Mr. Jaitley promised that the Goods and Services Tax Council will consider at its next meeting the State’s request to fix the tax rate of granite industry at 5% instead of the present 28%, sources added. Mr. Rao paid a courtesy call on BJP’s vice-presidential candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu.