APCC denies TDP allegations against Govt on BC welfare

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today denied the allegations of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that the State Government had neglected the welfare of the Backward Classes in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, party spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy said the Government had been giving priority to the welfare of the Backward Classes and increased the budgetory allocations during the last four years. The successive Congress Governments in the State had appointed four BC Commissions for the welfare of BCs and implemented the recommendations of the Commissions, he added.

Mr Tulasi said the Government had provided 34 per cent reservations for backward classes in the local bodies, compared to 20 per cent during the tenure of TDP-founder N T Rama Rao.

The Congress leader said the Government had decided to increase the diet charges of the BC hostels from 30 per cent to 40 per cent during the next financial year and agreed to reimburse the total tuition fees for the BC students.

He alleged that the TDP, during its nine-year rule, had not implemented any welfare schemes for the Backward Classes and did not mention anything about BC welfare in its manifesto in 1999 elections.

The backward classes would not believe the politically motivated statements of the TDP leaders, he added.

UNI BR VA AE RAI1856