Naidu promises political reservation for BCs

Warangal, Jan 23 (UNI) In a bid to lure the BCs ahead of the 2009 general elections, TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu, a constituent of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), made a host of promises, including 33 per cent political reservation, free houses and subsidised power to BCs.

Speaking at the party's impressive BC Garjana (BC's roar), he also assured three grams of gold for the marriage of BC girls, Rs 3,000 crore special revolving fund to provide loans, a budgetary allocation of atleast Rs 2,000 crore, subsidised power, revival of 'two rupees per kilo rice' scheme and also loans at three per cent interest rate for BCs and one per cent interest rate for BPL families.

The UNPA would provide BCs their due share in politics as well as in social and political arena, he said.

A separate Ministry would be created at the Centre for BCs and a Parliamentary Committee for their welfare, he added.

Mr Naidu promised to write off home loans taken by BCs and provide debt relief for artisans.

If the party would be voted to power, they would provide free education to all BC students, he announced, and added that 100 more residential schools would be started to impart quality education for them.

He also promised constrution of Dhobi Ghats for washermen, subsidised diesel for fishermen, removal of tree tax imposed on toddy tappers, compensation package for shepherds, a special package for beedi workers, quarry leases for Vaddera community and two acres of land for each potmaker.

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