Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy Friday claimed PM Narendra Modi is not from a backward class (BC) by birth, but a “legally converted BC” and challenged him to conduct a caste census if he cares about welfare of the downtrodden.
“Modi was an OC (forward caste) until he became Gujarat CM, after which his caste got included in BC list. Modi may carry a BC certificate, but his mindset is anti-BC. If Modi is sincere in his claims as a BC PM, I demand that he conduct a caste census along with general census in the entire country,” CM Revanth told a gathering of leaders from village to state at Gandhi Bhavan.
The CM was speaking after a PowerPoint presentation on the govt’s caste survey and SC categorisation exercise in the state.
Revanth said BJP was trying to portray the Congress govt’s caste survey in Telangana as faulty as otherwise the Modi govt will be under pressure to conduct it in the entire country and also amend the Constitution to enhance BC reservations. He also asked how the BRS and BJP could say the survey statistics were wrong when there was no official statistic available before the Congress’ survey.
“Let the Modi govt again do a BC census in Telangana along with the general census. Let them compare Centre’s BC census statistics with Telangana govt’s survey and try to prove it wrong. I challenge everyone trying to mislead BCs to show one mistake in the state govt’s survey. We did the survey scientifically and 96.9% of population in Telangana gave details voluntarily. The survey forms were filled up or signed by the family member who gave details. Now, we have started a second round of survey to give an opportunity to the remaining 3.1%,” Revanth said.
He further said: “Former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family do not want people to know about their assets. By staying away from the survey, KCR has lost the moral right to live in Telangana society. If KCR and his family do not participate in the second round starting Feb 16, socially boycott them,” Revanth said, adding that party leaders should play ‘dappu’ (drums used to traditionally inform the public) in front of the houses of KCR, KTR and T Harish Rao.
Revanth said KCR should explain to people how the Samagra Kutumba Survey (SKS) under his govt classified SCs as having 82 sub-castes when there are only 59 in Telangana. The SKS done in 12 hours on a single day is not a legal document, he added.
“I along with my cabinet colleagues, took the decision to conduct the caste survey to fulfil the promise of Rahul Gandhi to BCs and SCs. The BCs and SCs should not fall prey to opposition campaigns. If they do, they will lose. Now, they have an official count of their population, economic and social status. They can go to any court and show the govt’s scientific survey, which would help in upholding 42% reservations to BCs, 9.75% for Madigas and their sub-castes, and another 5.25% for Malas and their sub-castes. This is what you have been waiting for since Independence and the Congress govt has done it for you. We are soon going to make 42% BC reservations and SC categorisation into laws in the state assembly,” Revanth said.
“It doesn’t matter even if I end up as the last chief minister from the Reddy community. As a disciplined party worker and CM, I took up the caste survey to keep the promise given by our leader Rahul Gandhi. This is my commitment. The caste census was not done for my benefit, my position. The caste survey is accurate and there are no faults in its statistics. I am ready to remain an activist to uphold the ideals of our leader Rahul Gandhi. If the BCs fall prey to opposition campaigns, they will lose forever,” the CM said
“Modi was an OC (forward caste) until he became Gujarat CM, after which his caste got included in BC list. Modi may carry a BC certificate, but his mindset is anti-BC. If Modi is sincere in his claims as a BC PM, I demand that he conduct a caste census along with general census in the entire country,” CM Revanth told a gathering of leaders from village to state at Gandhi Bhavan.
The CM was speaking after a PowerPoint presentation on the govt’s caste survey and SC categorisation exercise in the state.
Revanth said BJP was trying to portray the Congress govt’s caste survey in Telangana as faulty as otherwise the Modi govt will be under pressure to conduct it in the entire country and also amend the Constitution to enhance BC reservations. He also asked how the BRS and BJP could say the survey statistics were wrong when there was no official statistic available before the Congress’ survey.
“Let the Modi govt again do a BC census in Telangana along with the general census. Let them compare Centre’s BC census statistics with Telangana govt’s survey and try to prove it wrong. I challenge everyone trying to mislead BCs to show one mistake in the state govt’s survey. We did the survey scientifically and 96.9% of population in Telangana gave details voluntarily. The survey forms were filled up or signed by the family member who gave details. Now, we have started a second round of survey to give an opportunity to the remaining 3.1%,” Revanth said.
He further said: “Former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family do not want people to know about their assets. By staying away from the survey, KCR has lost the moral right to live in Telangana society. If KCR and his family do not participate in the second round starting Feb 16, socially boycott them,” Revanth said, adding that party leaders should play ‘dappu’ (drums used to traditionally inform the public) in front of the houses of KCR, KTR and T Harish Rao.
Revanth said KCR should explain to people how the Samagra Kutumba Survey (SKS) under his govt classified SCs as having 82 sub-castes when there are only 59 in Telangana. The SKS done in 12 hours on a single day is not a legal document, he added.
“I along with my cabinet colleagues, took the decision to conduct the caste survey to fulfil the promise of Rahul Gandhi to BCs and SCs. The BCs and SCs should not fall prey to opposition campaigns. If they do, they will lose. Now, they have an official count of their population, economic and social status. They can go to any court and show the govt’s scientific survey, which would help in upholding 42% reservations to BCs, 9.75% for Madigas and their sub-castes, and another 5.25% for Malas and their sub-castes. This is what you have been waiting for since Independence and the Congress govt has done it for you. We are soon going to make 42% BC reservations and SC categorisation into laws in the state assembly,” Revanth said.
“It doesn’t matter even if I end up as the last chief minister from the Reddy community. As a disciplined party worker and CM, I took up the caste survey to keep the promise given by our leader Rahul Gandhi. This is my commitment. The caste census was not done for my benefit, my position. The caste survey is accurate and there are no faults in its statistics. I am ready to remain an activist to uphold the ideals of our leader Rahul Gandhi. If the BCs fall prey to opposition campaigns, they will lose forever,” the CM said
