The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Angry exchanges at BC panel meeting

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Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Angry exchanges at BC panel meeting

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The final public hearing on the question of including Muslims among backward classes here on Monday was marred by shouting by a group and angry exchanges between the Member-Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Commission for BCs and counsel for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The proceedings began smoothly with the commission headed by D. Subrahmanyam giving ABVP counsel, L. Ravichander, the first chance to present his argument. Mr. Ravichander wanted to peruse the material gathered by the commission and its methodology so that he could put forth his argument.

Counsel also took to the notice of the commission that the demand for reservations for Muslims was referred to the Anantaraman and Muralidhar Rao Commissions in the past without success.

The Member-Secretary of the commission, A. Sukumar, however, turned down the demand. He insisted that there could be no more sitting after Tuesday, the second day of the final hearing. Mr. Sukumar said the commission would finalise its report through consensus among members. The commission was only a recommendatory body and the final decision was left to the Government.This led to an angry exchange of words between Mr. Sukumar and Mr. Ravichander with the former walking away. The leaders of Muslim organisations who turned up from different parts of the State became restive with Mr. Ravichander's endless argument. They prevented him from arguing further. Mr. Subrahmanyam intervened to convince them that the whole of post-lunch session would be devoted to hearing the views of Muslim leaders.

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