OUT TO MAKE A POINT: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu leading his party MLAs out of the House on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam staged a walkout in the Assembly on Friday claiming that the State Government had misled the minorities by promising them reservations before elections to gain political mileage.

The BJP also walked out on the ground that the Government was trying to extend reservations on the basis of religion against the spirit of the Constitution.

Later, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, replying to the three-day debate on minorities welfare, announced the setting up of hostels exclusively for the students of the Minority community in each district.

The Government would release scholarships to minorities on a par with Backward Class students. He noted that the minority students received Rs. 400 to 600 per annum while the scholarships of BC students ranged from Rs. 250 to Rs. 525 a month. The budgetary allocation for scholarships to minorities which was Rs. 10 crores this year would be increased to Rs. 15 crores next year. Dr. Reddy said the budget allocation for welfare of minorities which was Rs. 49 crore for the current year, would be increased by Rs. 10 crores next year.

YSR promises more

Emphasising that there was empowerment of women belonging to minorities on account of introduction of lower interest rate (3 per cent) on loans borrowed by self-help groups in the rural areas, he said the scheme would now be extended to urban areas also.

He said the commitment of the Government to extend 5 per cent reservations to minorities was unshaken. It would overcome all obstacles and even explore Constitutional amendment which he was sure all parties, except BJP, would support.

Dr. Reddy announced that constitutional expert F.S. Nariman was being contracted to argue on behalf of the Government in the special leave petition to be filed before the Supreme Court next week against the High Court's judgment striking down the reservations.

Leading the walkout, Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu charged the Government with not being able to show its commitment to reservations for minorities. BJP Floor Leader, G. Kishan Reddy, said the Government resorted to vote bank and divisive politics.

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