The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lok Satta flays proposed panel for BCs

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lok Satta flays proposed panel for BCs

Sees motives in inclusion of Kapus, 17 other castes in backward list

HYDERABAD: Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan on Thursday criticised the State government’s decision to appoint a commission to go into the inclusion of Kapus and 17 other castes among BCs as an attempt to derive “short-term political gains”.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the decision was taken in view of the changing political situation in the State and expressed fears that it would trigger caste disputes like the ones witnessed between Malas and Madigas in Andhra Pradesh and Gujjars and Meenas in Rajasthan. He said there was indeed backwardness and deprivation among Kapus and for long they had demanded that they be included among BCS. But the timing and manner of the decision made it clear that the government was motivated not by a genuine desire to help those suffering from discrimination.

Genuine grievances

He said that several disadvantaged communities have genuine grievances about their non-inclusion in reservations. All such communities should be carefully considered and included among categories eligible for reservations after a thorough and objective analysis of their economic, social, cultural and anthropological background. Pending a scientific study, Dr. Narayan said that justice could be rendered by awarding 10 per cent weightage in marks to children from poor families, irrespective of their community in both educational institutions and government jobs.

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