BCs demand KCR govt to order caste census

Hyderabad: While Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been supporting the demand for caste-based census, its government in Telangana may come under pressure from the backward classes (BCs) to conduct a survey in the State on the lines of the exercise being undertaken in Bihar.

Backward classes groups are demanding the K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR)-led government to issue an order to conduct the caste census of BCs in the State as the BJP-led government at the Centre is refusing to undertake the exercise at the national level.

As KCR has changed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) into BRS to expand the party activities across the country, the BC groups feel that by taking an initiative for a caste census in Telangana, it can send a right message to BCs across the country. These groups have even offered to extend help to BRS in other States if it comes out with an order to conduct BC caste census in Telangana. BC Sankshema Sangham national president Jajula Srinivas Goud has urged the KCR to take the initiative in Telangana as this would help him win hearts of BCs in other states. “If a GO (Government Order) is issued for caste census in Telangana, we are ready to enlighten BCs and OBCs in states where BRS wants to contest,” he said.

He believes that by conducting caste census KCR can build a national image. “He is trying to project the Telangana model before the entire country to expand BRS in other states. The caste census will further consolidate this Telangana model,” he said.

However, BRS has not yet reacted to this demand. Political observers say that the party has taken a stand in support of caste census but it will tread cautiously on taking any step on its own which may politically boomerang. The ruling party may skirt the issue in the run-up to Assembly elections scheduled later this year. Some leaders have already mentioned that the power of conducting the census rests with the Centre.

Chairman of Telangana State Commission for Backward Classes, Vakulabarnam Krishna Mohan Rao has demanded that the Centre transfer the subject to the concurrent list.