*Chandrababu misleading BCs on Reservations: Venugopalakrishna*

Rajamahendravaram, October 2: Former Minister and East Godavari YSRCP President Chelluboyina Venugopalakrishna said the Chandrababu Naidu government had failed to implement its promises to BCs and was using the 34 per cent reservation issue for political publicity. Speaking at his camp office in Rajamahendravaram, he said there was a clear gap between the government’s claims and its actions on BC reservations, welfare funding and political representation.

Venugopalakrishna said Chandrababu’s claim that he had provided 34 per cent BC reservation was false and challenged him to place the relevant Government Order before the public and prove when and how he introduced it. Referring to G.O. Nos. 105 and 1065, he questioned the government’s position after court interventions and asked why it was now speaking of approaching the Supreme Court again.

He also questioned what happened to Chandrababu’s 2014 promise of allocating 100 Assembly seats to BCs and demanded a detailed account of BC welfare allocations and actual expenditure in successive budgets.

Venugopalakrishna said nearly three lakh applications collected for financial assistance through BC corporations remained pending and asked how many applicants had actually received loans or assistance. He also questioned whether the 56 BC corporations had adequate offices, staff and funds to function effectively.

He said BC communities should scrutinise every election promise, from political representation to welfare expenditure, and demand accountability. YSRCP, he said, would continue to raise issues concerning BC rights, political representation and economic advancement and would stand with BC communities in seeking implementation of their legitimate entitlements.