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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
