Hyderabad, May 9 (TNT): V. Hanumantha Rao, Advisor (BC Welfare and Department) to the Government and former convener of the OBC MPs Forum, launched an indefinite hunger strike at his residence in Amberpet here on Saturday demanding inclusion of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the nationwide census being conducted by the Central Government.
Several leaders and representatives of BC organisations participated in the programme, including Whip Adi Srinivas, MLC Kodandaram, MLA and OBC Committee Chairman Shankaraiah, conveners Dhana Lakshmi, K. Venkatesh and Santosh, BC Association president Jajula Srinivas and others.
Addressing the gathering at the hunger strike camp, Hanumantha Rao said he had written several letters to Narendra Modi urging the Centre to include a separate column for BCs in the census to ensure justice and welfare measures based on their population.
Claiming that there was no proper response from the Centre, Hanumantha Rao said he decided to launch the hunger strike.
He demanded that a separate column for BCs be included in the census and said justice should be ensured to BC communities in proportion to their population.
The senior Congress leader alleged that while justice was being extended to SCs and STs through constitutional provisions, BCs were being neglected. He also demanded that the Centre immediately respond to the letters written on the issue.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to Telangana, Hanumantha Rao said Modi should take a decision on the BC census issue before visiting the state.
He further demanded better employment opportunities and welfare measures for BC communities and urged BJP MPs belonging to BC communities to support the demand.
Criticising the BJP-led Centre, Hanumantha Rao alleged that the party was attempting to divide the country on religious lines and suppress opposition voices.
He also claimed that BCs were not provided reservation benefits under women’s reservation provisions and said Congress MPs had raised the issue in Parliament.
Warning of intensified protests if the Centre failed to respond, Hanumantha Rao said he would travel across the country to expose what he termed as injustice being done to BC communities.
TNT TS
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