BCs demand 50 per cent quota in legislative bodies

BC Sangham president R. Krishnaiah (second fromright) with other BC leaders at ‘Rana Bheri’ inVijayawada on Sunday. Photo: CH. Vijaya Bhaskar

Various backward classes' leaders, led by BC Welfare Sangham president R. Krishnaiah, demanded that the BCs be provided with 50 per cent reservation in legislative bodies to ensure justice and enable them to enjoy various benefits of political empowerment.

Addressing the BCs Rana Bheri (battle cry of BCs) organised at Siddhartha Auditorium here on Sunday evening, Mr. Krishnaiah and other leaders said that over the decades, BCs were denied their due share in political, social and employment space and it was high time that the political parties reward the BCs considering their higher numbers of population when compared with any other category.

The ‘Rana Bheri' was organised with the aim of bringing pressure on the government for introducing a bill for 50 per cent reservations for BCs in legislative bodies.

In his address as the distinguished guest, Mr. Krishnaiah called upon the BCs to remain united, so that they would be able to realise their dreams, by exerting the required pressure on the political parties in this connection.

He asserted that the strength of the BCs would remain the strength of their population and this should be used for their own development. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Kolanukonda Sivaji, TDP state secretary Konakalla Jagannadha Rao, BC Samkshema Sangham district president K. Venumadhav and others spoke on the occasion.

Mr. Kolanukonda Sivaji asserted that the BCs should make strong and united efforts for political power without waiting for somebody to help in this regard.

The organisers had invited many leaders for the meet, but most of them did not turn up. Those in the list included Secondary Education Minister K. Parthsarathy, Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana, former zilla parishad chairman Kukkala Nageswara Rao, several MLAs and others.

Rally

The association district leaders organised a motorcycle rally on the occasion of Mr. Krishnaiah's arrival for the meeting. The other main demands voiced by the leaders were implementation of reservations in promotions in Government jobs, formation of a special ministry for BCs in the Central government, allocation of funds for various caste-based corporations announced by the Government and so on.

The venue was named Gowthu Lachchanna Sabha Vedika in recognition of his services for the uplift of BCs.