Will move SC for BC quota hike: Etala

Hyderabad: Cabinet Sub-Committee on BC reservations on July 11 decided to move Supreme Court against High Court’s verdict against more than 50 per cent quota to BCs in Telangana, Finance Minister Etala Rajender has said.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat here along with Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and BC Welfare Minister Jogu Ramanna after the cabinet committee discussion, Etala said the government will fight the issue at the Apex Court. Rajender said, “Altogether we seek 61per cent quota and give 34 per cent to BCs in Education and employment. The cabinet sub-committee meeting was held following a directive from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to move the apex court to fight against the order High Court verdict.

“TRS activists did not file PIL in the High Court and the quota hike for the BCs was only for education and employment. There were no politics or any intention to win the elections with quota hike. The government will win the case in the apex court as the SCs and STs were enjoying the quota based on their respective population. Though BCs’ population was now put at 52 per cent, we are asking only 61 per cent altogether and want to give 34 per cent reservations in education and jobs”, he reiterated.

The Finance Minister also refuted the allegations that the TRS was afraid of defeat in the early elections. The TRS party has been winning all sorts of elections, including bye-elections and the GHMC and will retain power, he said. (NSS)