BRS announces Chalo Kokapet protest, demands withdrawal of GO 14 on BC Atma Gourava Bhavans

Hyderabad: The BRS demanded immediate withdrawal of GO Ms No.14 issued by the Congress government placing BC Atma Gourava Bhavans under government control. The party announced plans for ‘Chalo Kokapet’ programme to oppose the order, opposing the Congress government’s decision undermining the autonomy and self-respect of BC communities by taking control of buildings and land allotted to their associations by the previous BRS government.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Legislative Council Opposition Leader S Madhusudana Chari said the decision had hurt the self-respect of BCs. He lashed out at BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar for failing to protect the interests of the community and alleged that the Congress government was suppressing BCs.

He also criticised the government over drought and power shortages, contrasting its record with the welfare measures taken during the K Chandrashekhar Rao regime.

Former BC Welfare Minister Gangula Kamalakar said the previous BRS government issued GO 189 in 2018 to protect the autonomy of BC associations and provided Rs 97.5 crore for construction of the Atma Gourava Bhavans. He said government land was allotted to caste associations and each community was encouraged to form its own trust to manage the buildings without government interference.

He termed GO 14, issued on October 29, as an attempt to take control of the facilities and erase the legacy of K Chandrashekhar Rao. He announced that the BRS would organise a Chalo Kokapet programme and continue its protest until the order was withdrawn.

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan alleged that the order curtailed BC communities’ rights by placing their buildings under committees dominated by the government representatives. He questioned the absence of the BC Commission chairman from the selection committee and pointed out that the provisions were contradicting with the Congress’s Kamareddy BC Declaration. He also tore copies of GO 14 at the press conference, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

BRS Legislature Party whip KP Vivekanand alleged that the government intended to sell valuable land allotted for BC Atma Gourava Bhavans. He questioned the non-implementation of assurances made to BCs and said the party would continue its agitation until GO 14 was revoked.