Kapus, Balijas seek BC tag

Guntur: Representatives of Kapu, Balija, Ontari caste representatives on Thursday urged the Justice Manjunath Commission to take steps to include their castes in the list of BCs for their development and speed up the process for inclusion of their castes in BC list.

Justice Manjunath Commission conducted a public hearing in the Revenue Kalyana Mandapam in Guntur city to elicit opinion of various castes to make recommendations to the government to include them in the list of BCs.

Reiterating his stand, B C Welfare Association state president Kesana Sankara Rao informed the commission that they had come to explain their problems.

He demanded 50 per cent reservations for BCs in the local body elections and said the Centre and State government will include other castes in the list of BCs as per Constitution.

Similarly, Dasari Sangam state vice-president T Uma Maheswara Rao said Dasaris are selling toys for livelihood and are economically and educationally backward and demanded reservation for their caste.

Surya Balija Sangam general secretary Kailasnath Babu urged the commission to set up a separate Finance Corporation to sanction loans, while Surya Balija Vidyardhi Sangam city secretary Kalaisnath Babu demanded the government to set up a finance corporation for Surya Balija community and give 2 per cent reservations as per the Supreme Court order and urged for an opportunity for Surya Balijas in the temple committees.

Followed by Noor Basha Sangam Guntur city president Syyed Babu who urged the commission to include Noor Bashas in BCs
However, when Justice Manjunath Commission chairman Manjunath urged archakas and purohits to express their views, leaders of other castes raised objections.

Manjunath said, expect Kammas all the caste representatives requested the commission to include their communities in the list of BCs and said the commission visited 11 districts in the state till date.