BCYP chief issues ultimatum to govt. on demands related to BCs

Accusing successive governments of disregarding the long-pending demands of Backward Classes (BCs), Bharata Chaitanya Yuvajana Party (BCYP) president Bode Ramachandra Yadav said he would launch an indefinite fast on April 11 if they were not met within 30 days.

Addressing the BC Simha Garjana near Mangalagiri in Guntur district on Sunday (February 22), Mr. Ramachandra Yadav said “real BC empowerment” has been a mirage notwithstanding the tall claims by the governments.

In spite of accounting for 55% of the population, BCs held only 34 of the 175 Assembly seats, he cited as an example and criticised all the mainstream parties for maintaining double standards on the welfare of BCs, and for not giving them their Constitutional rights.

Lack of own buildings for 1,124 BC welfare hostels in the State, the meagre spending on inmates of hostels, attacks on BC communities and various other issues highlight their plight, he pointed out.

Further, Mr. Yadav said the sale of ganja and drugs at educational institutions posed a major threat to the future of youth. Most of the youth who were falling prey to this menace belonged to the BCs and other downtrodden sections. The government should order a high-level inquiry into it, he demanded.

“I am placing five main demands before the government. They are the immediate enactment of a BC Protection Act; allocation of 1,000 acres in Amaravati for BCs; a comprehensive caste census; 44% reservation; and adequate budgetary allocations to BC corporations,” he said.

A host of BC leaders, including Suraj Mandal, the grandson of B.P. Mandal, who chaired the Mandal Commission, took part.