BJP opposes inclusion of Muslims among BCs in caste survey in Telangana: Union Minister Kishan Reddy
Hyderabad/ New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday said the BJP opposes the inclusion of Muslims among backward classes in the recent caste survey done by the Congress government in Telangana.
Reddy, president of BJP in Telangana, said the inclusion of Muslims in the BC category 'hurts' the interests of backward classes.
He took exception to the caste survey counting backward sections among Muslims in the BC category, saying his party is opposed to the survey's identification of 'Hindu BCs' and 'Muslim BCs'.
The union minister told reporters in Delhi that the caste survey did not cover even 50 per cent of the houses.
Telangana provides reservations to backward Muslims in the backward classes category.
Meanwhile, state Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy defended the survey saying more than one lakh personnel were involved in the exercise that was conducted for 50 days.
He sought to know why BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and other party leaders did not participate in the survey.
Rao, his son and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao does not have the moral right to talk about the welfare of backward classes, Venkat Reddy told reporters here.
Meanwhile, Rama Rao held a meeting with the BC leaders of BRS here and discussed plans to take up protests for implementation of the promises made to BCs by the ruling Congress.
Backward classes other than Muslim minorities at 46.25 per cent form the largest chunk of the total 3.70 crore population of Telangana, according to the caste survey conducted in the state.
The population of BCs is followed by the Scheduled Castes (17.43), Scheduled Tribes (10.45), backward classes among Muslims (10.08) and Other Castes (13.31), OCs among Muslims (2.48) in terms of the percentage of population.
The demographic data of the caste survey was announced by the state government recently.
The Congress government's comprehensive socio-economic, employment, political and caste survey, an election promise of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was conducted for 50 days from November 6, 2024.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
