Panel to act like task force for categorization: Kishan

 Hyderabad: State BJP chief and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy on Monday stated that the committee announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would examine ways to expedite the legal process of categorisation of reservations for the Scheduled Caste communities, and act more like a task force. The meeting is a milestone in the history of social justice and Modi’s participation will remain etched in history, he said.

He clarified that contrary to the general perception after Modi’s statement, the committee would not examine the need for categorisation of SC reservations.

“He spoke like an activist looking for a solution. If need be, we will not hesitate to take the parliamentary route to make categorisation a reality,” he said.

Reddy also said that Union home minister Amit Shah could visit the state on September 17 or 18 and release the party’s manifesto. He will address meetings in Warangal (East), Gadwal, Nalgonda and Rajendranagar.

On the categorization issue, Reddy said that many committees and commissions had filed reports on the demand and political parties had supported it. Two five-member benches of the Supreme Court gave contradictory judgments, he said. The issue was being dealt with by a seven-judge bench in the apex court.

“The Telugu Desam implemented categorisation for a few years and the Left parties backed the demand,” he pointed out.

“No PM has addressed the categorisation issue directly so far. The Congress did not raise the issue for 10 years in Parliament; the UPA government had constituted the Usha Mehra Committee in 2004 but kept its report in cold storage. The BRS, apart from passing a resolution, did not pursue it with the Centre,” he said.

Explaining how the Prime Minister picked up the issue, he said it was debated by party president J.P. Nadda and Shah. It was broached by MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga when they met in Warangal in July. Amit Shah met MRPS leaders and discussed the issue with them, he said.

Elsewhere, campaigning in the Amberpet constituency for party candidate Krishna Yadav, he questioned the lack of development and alleged that the BRS was busy in corruption and filing illegal cases.

 “In all 21 schools, a BC hostel, five electric sub-stations, three libraries and more than 100 community halls were constructed when I was a MLA. While the rest of the city suffered from flooding, Amberpet did not because of the preventive measures we had taken,” he said.

Why should people vote for a party, which had failed to keep its promises? Reddy wondered.

“If government employees have to get salary on the first of the month and to ensure an appropriate implementation of welfare schemes, a double engine government in Telangana is imperative, he said.