*Govt running away from DSC debate: YSRCP MLCs*

Assembly Media Point, August 20: YSRCP MLCs said the coalition government has been running away from a debate on DSC irregularities in the Legislative Council for four consecutive days because it has no answers. They demanded a CBI inquiry into the recruitment process and the resignation of Education Minister Nara Lokesh, declaring that their agitation would continue until accountability is fixed.

Speaking at the Assembly Media Point, the MLCs said they were ready for a debate not only on DSC but also on law and order, the ganja mafia, farmers’ issues and the safety of women and children. They said the government must explain how ineligible candidates secured teaching jobs under the Sports Quota using fake certificates and without even writing the examination.

MLCs Kumbha Ravibabu, Bommu Israel, Isaq Basha, Varudu Kalyani and Kalpalatha Reddy said serious questions surrounding DSC remained unanswered. They questioned the appointment of the same convenor for DSC and SCERT, referred to the blocking of outsourcing candidate Naveen’s ID despite securing State first rank, and said sports such as ice skating with no relevance to Andhra Pradesh were included while questionable certificates were accepted.

They rejected the government’s claim that the previous YSRCP government had not recruited teachers, stating that more than 16,000 teacher posts, including appointments relating to the 1998 and 2008 DSC candidates, were filled during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure.

The MLCs also challenged the government to order a CBI inquiry into both DSC and Group-1 recruitments and let the facts emerge.

Ravibabu demanded withdrawal of GO 51, saying tribal rights under the 1/70 Act and Forest Rights Act were being violated for hydro-power projects. The MLCs declared that their fight for unemployed youth, students and tribal communities would continue both inside the legislature and among the people until justice was delivered.