Leaders say it’s done with an eye on LS polls

Leaders of the pradesh Congress committees (PCCs) of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have welcomed the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to provide 10% reservation to the poor among upper castes or economically backward classes (EBCs).

They, however, observed that the Centre’s decision smacked political opportunism as it comes barely a few months ahead of Parliament (Lok Sabha) elections and as a measure to cover up its failures during the last four years. They felt that it could have helped at least some, had it been provided immediately after it came to power in 2014.President of Andhra Pradesh PCC N. Raghuveera Reddy stated here on Tuesday that Congress party had been assuring it to people during its campaign of ‘Intintiki Congress’ (Congress to every threshold) taken up from October 2 last. It was also represented to the manifesto committee of AICC for reservation to poor among the upper castes.

‘Lacks sincerity’

With a plan to buck the anti-incumbency at least among some sections of society the NDA government had planned the measure, Mr. Reddy said alleging that the Centre had failed to fill any of the 24 lakh vacancies in its purview. They welcome the step although it lacked sincerity, he noted addressing a press conference.

He alleged that the Centre was suppressing the data about Backward Classes population as it would warrant increase in OBC quota, if made public.

At a separate press conference, vice president of Telangana PCC Mallu Ravi said Congress would cooperate with the Centre in amending the Constitution required for providing 10% quota to the poor among upper castes/EBCs. He condemned the remarks of former Union minister Sarve Satyanarayana against TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy. Mr. Ravi suggested to the former not to act to cause damage to party prospects ahead of panchayat raj elections.