HYDERABAD: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatraya today requested Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to create a dedicated corpus of Rs 5,000 crore for the welfare of backward classes (BCs).
"The BCs constitute more than 52 per cent of population of Telangana and their welfare has been neglected for a long time," the Secunderabad MP said in a letter addressed to the Telangana CM, In the letter, Dattatraya requested Rao to create a sub-plan mechanism for BCs on par with SCs (Scheduled Castes) and STs (Scheduled Tribes) and to strengthen the BC Corporation, dedicated for their welfare, by creating a corpus of Rs 5,000 crore.
With regard to the Telangana government's initiative to distribute sheep to shepherds, Dattatraya said it is linked to industry, the shepherd communities cannot be financially empowered.
He requested the government to establish wool industry hubs at Andole, Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar, Khammam and Nagarkurnool.
He further requested Rao to think in terms of linking all other traditional BC occupations with industries and constitute a committee of experts, including BC entrepreneurs, to study its feasibility.
Dattatraya also requested Rao to include Ahir Samaj in the BC list in Telangana on lines of other states.
"Political reservations to minorities is unconstitutional, particularly in the BC (E) quota, and is hampering the interests of BCs, which should be deleted," Dattatraya added.