HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party members stalled proceedings in the Assembly on Thursday for half an hour by staging a dharna near the podium over the issue of release of funds for scholarships to backward class students.

They squatted on the steps leading to the podium and shouted slogans highlighting the plight of BC students due to insufficient release of funds, forcing Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy to adjourn the House twice.

The TDP members withdrew after Finance Minister K. Rosaiah gave an assurance that he and BCs' Welfare Minister D. Srinivas would meet and resolve the issue soon after the Assembly session.

White paper sought

The BC Praja Samiti has asked the Government to come out with a white paper on the welfare programmes for BCs. The State executive committee meeting of the samiti held here on Thursday decried the alleged step-motherly treatment meted out to the community.

Samiti co-convenor P. Rama Krishnaiah in a statement issued here said that budget for BCs' welfare was drastically cut this year.

Dharna staged

Meanwhile, responding to a call given by the BC Welfare Association, a large number of students staged a dharna in front of Telugu Samkshema Bhavan where the office of the BC Welfare Commissioner is located.

They asked the Government to immediately release the scholarships.

They called off the protest after the official assured that proposals are being sent to the Government.

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