Now, it’s Telangana turn to take on Centre

Hyderabad: A la Andhra political parties, which have launched an agitation for special category status to AP in Parliament, the ruling TRS in Telangana is getting ready to confront the Union government on the categorisation of SCs and the enhancement of quota for minorities and STs (Scheduled Tribes) in education and jobs in the post-budget session of Parliament which resumes on March 5.

Telangana government has already forwarded the proposal for increase of minority and ST reservation in proportion to their population, to the Centre recently. The Union government did not take any decision on the issue so far, except seeking some clarification from the state government.

As the ensuing full budget session will be the last one for the BJP-led NDA government before polls, TRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is understood to have asked his MPs to raise the reservation issues in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

“KCR is unhappy with the Centre for not even giving him appointment to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and bring to his notice the importance of the reservation issues in Telangana state,” a senior leader said and pointed out that KCR went to New Delhi twice and tried to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the recent months. 

The PMO officials did not give appointment as the PM was busy with poll campaign in Gujarat and the just-concluded elections in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya. Sources said that the TRS MPs will raise their voice in Parliament and fight on their demand by seeking support from other political parties. KCR has already got support from DMK of Tamil Nadu on his demand to accord freedom to the states to increase quota for the local communities. 

The TRS will also seek support from the likeminded parties in the fight in Parliament. Before the beginning of the session, KCR will hold a meeting with his party MPs and prepare a political strategy. The TRS chief is also planning to visit New Delhi and raise the issue at national level.

Apart from the reservation and categorisation of SCs, the TRS MPs will also raise the issue of allocation of more funds to the states for Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha and Kaleshwaram project. Telangana state has been demanding the Centre to provide Rs 40,000 crore additional funds to complete the flagship programmes, the source said.