Congress leader urges Amit Shah to address concerns of BCs

A.P. Congress Committee vice-president and A.P. Backward Classes Welfare Association convenor Kolanukonda Shivaji has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his attention to the long-pending issues concerning the social, economic, educational and political empowerment of Backward Classes across the country.

Anticipating Mr. Amit Shah’s visit to Vijayawada on Monday, the Congress leader wrote the letter stating that BC communities continue to face inadequate representation and social inequalities, despite their contribution to nation building.

Ensuring their rightful share in governance and development is a constitutional obligation and a matter of social justice, he said, while placing a few demands including caste census; political reservation; provision of adequate reservation for BCs in State Legislative Assemblies and Parliament in proportion to their population; a dedicated BC sub quota in women’s reservation; separate Ministry for Backward Classes in the Union government; removal of 50% reservation limit to ensure proportionate representation for BCs in government employment, Parliament, State Legislatures and local self-governments.

These are not concessions or favours sought from the government, but legitimate constitutional rights and long-standing demands of BC communities, he said, urging Mr. Amit Shah to initiate appropriate legislative and administrative measures to fulfil the demands and uphold the principles of equality.