BC groups plan to besiege Collectorates

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Association and other BC organisations in the state will lay siege to collectorates in all the districts on December 30 in protest against the Central government's decision to provide 4.5 per cent subquota to minorities in the 27 per cent OBC quota.Association president R Krishnaiah held a meeting with representatives of 65 BC organisations, leaders of nine BC Employees Welfare Associations and 23 BC Welfare Organisations here on Sunday to chalk out a plan of action to better safeguard their interests.Speaking to Express, the BC leader said they were not against providing reservation to minorities. But Muslims and other minorities should be provided reservation under a special quota and the minority quota should not be included in the OBC quota, he said.The Sachar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Committee recommended that the Centre provide reservations to minorities in the country separately and not from OBC quota.Krishnaiah termed provision of 4.5 per cent reservation to minorities a poll gimmick ahead of Assembly elections in five states. He urged the minorities not to fall prey to the political gimmick played by the Congressled UPA government at the Centre. He asked them to fight for 10 per cent separate reservations, which would be supported by BCs also.There is no truth in the state government's contention that there is no possibility to increase the quota further. Tamil Nadu is implementing quota for various sections of people up to 70 per cent, Karnataka up to 69 per cent and Kerala up to 54 per cent. There is a lot of discrimination against BCs in Independent India.Though BCs constitute 50 per cent of the total population in the country, their share in the Central government jobs is 6 per cent only, he said, demanding a better deal for Backward Classes.