The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Move forward on Telangana: RPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Move forward on Telangana: RPI

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 11. The Republican Party of India (RPI) has reiterated its commitment to the formation of a separate Telangana, Vidarbha and to carving out yet another State from Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, the party president and MP, Ramdas Athawale, referred to the reported statement of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, asking the protagonists of separate Telangana to wait until completion of the elections in Maharashtra. Now that the polls were over, things should move forward.

Quota for Dalits

He said the RPI was striving to increase the reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, which were 22.5 per cent, including 15 for the SCs and 7.5 for the STs which were based on the 1950 population figures.

As their combined population had now increased to 26 per cent, including 17 for the SCs and 9 for the STs, the reservations should be increased proportionately.

He also supported reservations in the private sector.

Speaking of the 26 per cent of population, which was below poverty line, Mr. Athawale said poverty could be eradicated only by ensuring equitable distribution of land and strengthening the rural cooperative movement.

When asked about his impression on the categorisation of the SCs, he said the party was opposed to such a move.

If the deprived sections were given more opportunity and reservations, they would rise to level of the creamy layer, he said.

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