KCR To Seek PM Appointment On SC Categorisation In Telangana

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be sought to lead an all-party delegation on the demand for categorisation of SCs in the state.

Rao's comments came in the wake of death of a woman activist during a protest at the Hyderabad Collector's office here on Monday in support of the demand for categorisation of Scheduled Castes. The woman, identified as Bharati, is an activist of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) which called for state-wide protests in support of their demand.

Making a statement in the House, Rao said a letter would be sent to the prime minister in a couple of days, seeking his appointment. The letter would have the signatures of representatives of all the parties in the Legislative Assembly. "Whenever he (PM) gives an appointment, we will go," he said.

The protesting activists of MRPS tried to go into the Collector's office by pushing the gate and police were shifting them one by one in a vehicle, the CM said. Bharati (40) fell ill and sat there. Police shifted her to state-run Osmania Hospital and she died while undergoing treatment, the Chief Minister's statement said.

Rao announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The government has seen the video footage concerning the incident and it was being released through the media, he said. The government is investigating the incident, he said.

The Legislative Assembly had earlier adopted a resolution urging the Centre to take up categorisation of SCs. The state government had earlier represented to the Centre to introduce a bill in Parliament to facilitate the process. The demand for categorisation of SCs is being made to enable judicious distribution of fruits of reservation among all SC communities.

Welcoming Rao's announcement of ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh, Leader of Opposition (Congress) K Jana Reddy and other parties suggested that a job can be given to any eligible member of Bharati's family. Rao responded positively to the request and also announced that the government would bear the education expenses of her children.

Earlier, Jana Reddy intervened and brought the death of the woman to the notice of the House when a debate on government's updation of land records was going on. Jana Reddy and leaders of the BJP and the TDP wanted the House to be adjourned briefly to enable the government to make a statement on the incident.