Praja Sankalpa Yatra Day 18 Diary: For Chandrababu, BCs Are Just Vote Banks

November 26, Venkatagiri, Kurnool District:

Today, there was a meeting of the BCs. We discussed in detail the slew of problems that the BCs are facing in their daily life. The very worked weaker section causes me immense pain. Why should there be discrimination when the whole society should remain one. The BCs are second to none in intellect and hard work. Yet, they are being oppressed financially, socially and politically. False promises and temporary palliatives have turned them into mere vote banks. This has kept them backward. It is time that we should provide a sincere helping hand to them and enable them to reach the top. The discrimination has to end.

A washerman's family suffered ostracism and their house demolished for refusing to wash clothes. This happened barely 13 km away from CM Chandrababu Naidu's home turf Kuppam. Ironically, this happened on August 15, the day we got our independence. Till now, there has been no action against the perpetrators. Chandrababu Naidu's commitment to BC welfare can be gauged from the fact that he chose Kuppam, a constituency with BC majority, over Chandragiri, where he wasn't sure of victory. He chose a seat that should rightly have a BC MLA. His prophesied love for BCs is a mere facade.

In the runup to 2014 elections, he had promised to include Valmikis and Kurumas in ST category, Rajakas in SC category and Kapus in BC category. He garnered their votes using these fake promises. He made them pawns in his power play. My late father had realised that the Veerasaiva Lingayats were economically and socially backward and included them in the BCs. One should have a will, a commitment for BC welfare. If only Chandrababu had any commitment to BC welfare, he would never have watered down the fee reimbursement scheme. YS Rajasekhara Reddy had always yearned for BC welfare and reimbursed their fees in full. But, today, Chandrababu Government is paying in thousands when the fees are in lakhs. The same issue was highlighted by the D Pharm students, who met me today. Is it right for Chandrababu Naidu to shed crocodile tears when his government is watering down all the schemes that benefit the BCs and the poor? Yesterday, it was Arogya Sri, today, it is fee reimbursement. My late father has showed himself to be the real friend of the BCs. My father is my source of inspiration when it comes to BC welfare.

I would like to ask Chandrababu Naidu as to why he had not allocated Rs 40000 crore at the rate for Rs 10000 crore for the BC Sub-Plan that he had promised during the 2014 elections? Out of your paltry allocations, what is the actual amount that you had spent for the BC welfare?