ANANTAPUR: YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said a BC Committee would be constituted in a couple of days to ascertain the problems and seek suggestions from the backward communities to organise BC Garjana where a BC declaration would be unveiled for the all round progress and development of BCs. Addressing a public meeting after interacting with people at Kanagudur in Kadapa district on Monday Mr Reddy said that his party was committed to bring back lost smiles on the faces of the backward communities.

“The Telugu Desam government was paying only a lip service to the welfare of the BCs, the real benefits will be accrued only when YSRC comes to power,” he stated. The seven-day long Praja Sankalpa Yatra of Mr Reddy concluded in his home turf - Kadapa district on Monday after the leader reached Chagalamarri mandal in Kurnool district. Mr Reddy who kick started yatra from Idupulapaya eight days ago and took a break on Friday to attend court. He observed that not one shepherd could get insurance for the sheep that had died due to diseases and pests.

Unless the BCs manage to secure professional degrees their lives would not improve, adding that fee reimbursement was aimed at enabling the BC youth to obtain higher education. Mr Reddy announced that every eligible SC, ST, BC and Minority person will receive pension at 45 years of age. “We will announce a BC committee in another few days which will tour every constituency to register suggestions. The committee will function simultaneously as I undertake the paadayatra. Once I am done with this 6 month long Yatra, a BC Garjana will be held on BC declaration,” Jagan said.

He further added that village secretariats will ensure that any request or application with regard to the schemes of YSRC will be processed within 72 hours. He also sought waiving the entire amount for engineering and medical students and giving them Rs 20,000 additionally to take care of their mess and hostel expenses annually. The yatra had mixed responses from YSRC camp and the TD camp.

The YSRC cadres were happy with the grand success of the Sankalp yatra in Mr Reddy’s home turf. He has until now taken out yatras in Pulivendula, Kamalapuaram and Proddatur segments of Kadapa covering about 63 Km. The Telugu Desam leaders were seen criticising the leader of the opposition’s padayatra and stated that it was a routine one with no proper significance to it.