TD seeks BC data in Census

The Telugu Desam on Sunday, demanded a separate column in the Census form to secure caste details of the people. The TD observed that this would facilitate details about Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in the population.

The party politburo which met here after four months decided to press for a sub-quota within women reservations for BCs and minorities. The party chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, will write a letter to the UPA government pressing for an amendment to the Act.

“We demand an amendment to the Act. Only after amendment can the Bill be introduced in the Lok Sabha,” said Mr K. Yerran Naidu, senior party leader.

Fearing a clash between Telangana and Coastal Andhra region leaders, the politburo meeting was not held in the last four months. The TD used to convene the politburo meeting every fortnight to discuss matters of importance. But with the Telangana issue coming to the fore, the TD leadership chose not to convene a meeting. Interestingly, the poliburo did not discuss about Telangana.

Leaders from both the regions met after four months and discussed the party’s future course of action in the wake of severe criticism from other parties that the TD failed to perform its role as the main Opposition party.

The Adilabad MP, Mr Ramesh Rathod, has been nominated as head of the committee which will oversee the membership drive in the party that will start from April 1.

T ministers plan to sideline KCR

Telangana ministers are all set to visit New Delhi next week to exert pressure on the UPA government for Telangana state.
The ministers do not want the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and his family take all credit for T state.
The ministers want to give an impression that the UPA government has been processing the T issue only because of the Congress.
Though the JAC represents all parties, many ministers feel that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao has been dominating the T cause. “We will not allow KCR to take all the credit in future,” said a minister. “We will convince the high command that separate Telangana is a must for the development of the region,” he added.
According to the ministers, only the Congress can ensure peace in Telangana.
“The UPA government organised an all-party meeting in New Delhi on January 5 only because of ministers’ pressure,” he added.
Meanwhile, all ministers representing Telangana region attended office on Saturday. Ministers Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Mr Jupalli Krishna Rao, Mr Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and others reviewed the progress of the respective departments.
Mr Venkat Reddy, who withdrew his resignation recently, came to the Secretariat and attended the Chief Minister’s review meeting of Mahbubnagar district.
“We are all striving for Telangana state. We will not ignore development and welfare of the people,” he added.