Date:16/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/16/stories/2007111663840100.htm

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Noisy scenes over SC & ST sub-plan

TDP, Left parties storm Speaker’s podium demanding CM’s presence

- Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Gritty struggle: Police using force to lift agitating activists belonging to weaker communities at a ‘Chalo Assembly’ in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: The Assembly was adjourned amidst noisy scenes on Thursday after Telugu Desam and Left members stormed the Speaker’s podium demanding that Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy be summoned to the House during a discussion on nodal agency for implementing Special Component Plan for SCs and ST sub-plan.

Dr. Reddy had earlier left the House after announcing that orders had been issued to create the agency and include the finance secretary as a member.

The Opposition members raised slogans as Minister for Social Welfare P. Subhash Chandra Bose rose to reply. As the din continued, deputy speaker G. Kuthuhalamma adjourned the House. Earlier, CPI (M) floor leader N. Narasimaiah said that police had cane-charged the activists of dalit organisations who participated in Chalo Assembly rally. The Chief Minister said though the Government had initially issued an order setting up an apex agency, the political parties observed that it would not be useful. Hence, a fresh GO was issued setting up the nodal agency for implementing the Special Component Plan for SCs and sub-plan for STs.

He said that powers were vested with the agency to re-appropriate amounts which were not expended. Declaring that his Government was committed to uplift of SCs and STs, he said that the State had moved to either the first or second place in implementing the 20-point programme.

The TDP, CPI (M), CPI, TRS and BJP wanted implementation of bodies from district to mandal levels. They said that powers should be given to the nodal agency to pool funds and plan the programmes.

Meanwhile, over 200 activists of the ‘Society against caste discrimination’, including its general secretary John Wesley, were arrested as they tried to take out a ‘Chalo Assembly’ procession near Indira Park, demanding allocation of 16.2 per cent and 6.6 per cent of plan funds for STs and STs respectively. They were later let off on personal surety.

Leaders of different political parties including B.V. Raghavulu (CPI-M), K. Ramakrishna (CPI), Bandaru Dattatreya (BJP), T. Harish Rao and G. Nagesh (TRS), G. Demudu, MLA and President, Girijana Samakhya and Jalli Wilson, MLC addressed the rally.