TDP to hold public meeting in Warangal on Jan 23 to woo BCs

Hyderabad, Jan 21 (UNI) After holding a public meeting in Vijayawada to woo peasants, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu will hold a public meeting in Warangal on January 23 to lure the Backward Classes, considered to be the party's ''vote bank''.

Ahead of the major event, the former Chief Minister gave a call to the BCs to unite and wage a relentless struggle against the Congress Government, which, he alleged, was acting with ''vengeance'' against the BCs.

Addressing a press conference here, he promised to revive the special schemes launched for the welfare of BCs during the previous TDP regime and claimed that the ruling Congress was fear-struck following the TDP's efforts to unite them in the fight against the ''anti-BC'' policies of the Government.

Mr Naidu alleged that the Rajasekhara Reddy Government did nothing for their welfare. The ruling Congress was also suppressing the BCs politically by denying them constitutional posts.

''Don't the BCs, who account for more than 50 per cent of the population, deserve justice,'' he asked, adding that not a single person belonging to the community had been made a Vice-Chancellor of any university or head of the Urban Development authorities.

Stating that the BCs were dear to the party ever since it was floated by late Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, Mr Naidu said the Congress Government, which had announced a Rs 1,500 crore Rajiv Abhyudaya scheme for BCs welfare, had allocated only a meagre Rs 15 crore in last year's budget and hardly spent half that amount.

He demanded that the Centre order a census to ascertain the population of BCs in the country.

UNI SM VA GD MSJ ND1714