Congress, BJP Clash Over BC Welfare in Assembly
Shankar questioned the credibility of surveys including the SEEEPC Survey of 2024 and the Sarvakutumba survey conducted under the BRS regime
HYDERABAD: The Congress and BJP locked horns in the Legislative Assembly over welfare of Backward Castes, with BJP MLA Payal Shankar engaging in a heated exchange with ministers including BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
During debate on the resolution demanding inclusion of BC/OBC in the Census-2027 questionnaire, Shankar launched a sharp attack on the ruling Congress, saying dismissal of the only BC woman minister from the cabinet reflected its attitude towards the community. He accused the government of failing to implement the Kamareddy BC declaration and the BC sub-plan, while Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka promised a review of the BC Welfare Corporation.
Shankar questioned the credibility of surveys including the SEEEPC Survey of 2024 and the Sarvakutumba survey conducted under the BRS regime. “We have been challenging this survey, as the BC population is being shown as reduced. When will the BC declaration be implemented and what about the sub-plan? When will these be implemented?” he asked.
Prabhakar, who moved the resolution, promised a separate debate on BC welfare but countered that the BJP stood for Manuvada, citing the ‘Shuddikaran’ issue in Haldwani. He argued that the BJP’s opposition to the resolution showed its disregard for social justice, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi representing the BC community.
Ministers Bhatti Vikramarka, D. Sridhar Babu and Vakiti Srihari also intervened. The confrontation escalated when Shankar challenged the treasury benches, saying, “If you have patience, listen, or else cut my mike.” BJP MLAs later staged a walkout, citing non-implementation of the Kamareddy BC declaration.
