Up quota limit for backwards, PM told

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accord the Centre's approval and arrange the President’s assent to allow Telangana government to implement reservations for SCs, STs and BCs over the Supreme Court’s prescribed limit of 50 per cent.

The CM did not used the term "Muslim reservations enhancement" from four per cent to 12 per cent but termed them as “socially and educationally backward classes under BC-E category.”

In a representation submitted to the PM, Mr Rao stated that, “Consequent to the formation of Telangana State, proportion of the weaker sections population has increased. Thus, post bifurcation, the share of STs in Telangana has increased from 7.11 per cent in undivided AP to 9.08 per cent. Likewise, the population of Muslims in Telangana increased from 9.56 per cent in AP to 12.68 per cent now. The proportion of BCs population has increased to over 50 per cent of the total population. Therefore, there is need for a relook at the percentage of reservations in favour of SC/ST/BC in the State.”

Mr Rao told the PM, “Telangana State Commission for Backward Classes, in its report on 11/04/2017, had recommended enhancement of the percentage of reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes under BC-E Group from the existing four to 12 per cent. The Supreme Court had capped the reservations at 50 per cent, but clarified that, if it should exceed 50 per cent, the state shall make a case showing the compelling circumstances. Tamil Nadu is providing 69 per cent reservation in the State.”

The CM also sought `20,000-crore grant for Kaleshwaram project, completion on pending railway projects, arrears of backward areas development grants, new IIIT for Karimnagar and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in new district headquaters.