Telangana Minister Urges BRS Leaders to Join Caste Survey
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Synopsis
On February 13, Telangana's Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar called on BRS leaders to participate in the upcoming caste survey, emphasizing the importance of their engagement in democratic processes.
Key Takeaways
- Ponnam Prabhakar urges BRS leaders to participate in the caste survey.
- Survey opportunity extends from February 16 to February 28.
- Claims of a re-survey by BRS leaders are dismissed.
- Reservations in Telangana will reflect public aspirations.
- Local body elections to follow the survey completion.
Hyderabad, Feb 13 (NationPress) Telangana Backward Classes Welfare and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged the leaders of the primary opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), on Thursday to demonstrate their commitment by taking part in the caste survey.
During a media briefing in Karimnagar, he stated that since some individuals failed to submit their information during the survey conducted between November and December 2024, the government has decided to provide them with an opportunity from February 16 to February 28.
The minister clarified that this is not a re-survey, contrary to claims made by BRS leaders, asserting that the allegations made by them are unfounded.
"If senior BRS officials truly believe in democracy, they should demonstrate this by engaging in the survey," he remarked.
Labeling the BJP as a party representing business interests, he accused them of opposing caste census, BC reservation, and the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes. He claimed that BJP representatives were disparaging BCs and Muslims for political gain.
Ponnam Prabhakar emphasized that reservations in Telangana would align with the aspirations of the populace. He noted that impoverished members of the Muslim community are included among the BCs.
Regarding local body elections, he mentioned that these would be held after the survey is completed. A special legislative session will be summoned to ensure a 42 percent reservation for BCs in local bodies. He advised opposition parties that if they are genuinely concerned about BC welfare, they should not obstruct the passage of the Bill.
The state government announced on Wednesday that it would conduct another round of caste surveys starting next week to include individuals who were unable to participate previously.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka confirmed that those who missed the survey for various reasons may share their details with enumerators and encouraged the remaining 3.1 percent of the population to take advantage of this chance.
This decision follows criticism from opposition parties questioning the statistics presented in the State Assembly on February 4.
They raised concerns about the reported decline in the BC population from 61 percent (including Muslim BCs) from the integrated household survey conducted in 2014 to 56.33 percent in the caste survey conducted in November-December 2024.
