Queues say a sop story in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s largesse to some communities with land and cash for construction of bhavans in posh Banjara Hills and other places has led to other communities clamouring for similar sops.

Marwaris under the umbrella of Telangana Marwari Samiti’ met Mr Rao on Thursday and urged him to sanction a bhavan along with cash for its construction.

“We backed the Telangana movement and stood by the TRS government. Since Mr Rao is kind enough to provide land and bhavans to various communities, we request him to sanction one for the our community too in Hyderabad,”said Mahesh Harsh, president of Telangana Marwari Samiti.

“We are not seeking reservations, but need support of the government for employment of poor Marwaris and a bhavan of their own,” he added.

There is mounting pressure on MLAs and MPs in Telangana from various communities, especially BCs, after the announcement of sops by Mr Rao to Banjaras, Adivasis, Scheduled Castes, Kurmas and Christians.

Zaheerabad MP B.B. Patil and TRS MLC Karne Prabhakar were flooded with requests from Jangams and Veerashaiva Lingayats for similar bhavans.

“We are extremely happy with the Chief Minister’s decision to provide bhavans to various communities in Telangana. We will also present our community’s case. Both communities have more than 20 lakh members,” Mr Patil said.

Armoor MLA Jeevan Reddy said that several communities, including Brahmins, weavers, potters and others were seeking sops. “The CM has carved a niche for himself in the hearts of people,” Mr Reddy added.

There are 112 communities in the socially and educationally backward class list recognised by the Telangana government under five categories of A, B, C, D and E with reservations totaling 29 per cent, apart from reservations for SCs and STs.

Welcoming Mr Rao’s sops to various communities, TRS MLC R. Ramulu hit back at the Telangana TD who had stated that bhavans would not fill empty stomachs of Dalits who needed greater support.

“TD criticised the CM out of sheer jealousy. Banjara Hills belongs to us but we didn’t have an inch of land. Thanks to the CM, our dream has been fulfilled. We had requested AP CM Chandrababu Naidu to sanction 500 square yards in Banjara Hills, but he had refused,” Mr Ramulu said.