*Coalition betrayed BCs, failed to deliver promises*

Visakhapatnam, Sept 10: Former MLA Petla Uma Shankar Ganesh alleged that the TDP-led coalition government has betrayed Backward Classes and failed to implement its major election promises.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP office here on Thursday, he said the ‘Jai Ho BC’ meeting organised by Ayyanna Patrudu in Narsipatnam was aimed at misleading BCs rather than empowering them. He alleged that 35 lakh tonnes of laterite worth around Rs 1,000 crore had been excavated in the past 16 months and claimed that fresh public hearings were being conducted to facilitate further mining.

He challenged the government to grant Opposition Leader status to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and face him in the Assembly. He alleged that Chandrababu Naidu had earlier obstructed the 34 per cent reservation provided to BCs in local bodies by the previous government.

Ganesh said YS Jagan treated BCs as the “backbone classes” and gave them substantial representation in the Cabinet, nominated posts and local bodies.

He questioned the coalition over its promises of a Rs 4,000 pension for BCs from the age of 50, a BC Protection Act, a Rs 1.50 lakh crore BC Bank and Rs 2,000 crore worth of tools under Adarana.

He also alleged that the government owed each unemployed youth Rs 81,000 and each eligible woman Rs 40,500 under its promised allowances. He accused the government of failing to fully deliver three free LPG cylinders annually and restricting free bus travel to only five of 16 RTC categories.

Ganesh said people would hold the coalition accountable for its unfulfilled promises in the coming local body elections.