400 Crore Diwali Bonus For Singareni Workers

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka today announced that the Singareni Collieries workers would receive a Diwali bonus of Rs 400 crore.

"On behalf of the State government, I am happy to announce this bonus for the Singareni workers who light up the nation with their hard work," Vikramarka said.

He also conveyed Diwali greetings to the people of Telangana.

Speaking to the media at the District Congress office in Khammam, Vikramarka reiterated that the Congress government remained firmly committed to providing 42% reservations for OBCs, as promised in its manifesto.

"For the first time since India's independence, we conducted a comprehensive socio-economic, educational and political survey in Telangana. Based on this survey, a Bill to provide 42% reservations for BCs was introduced, unanimously passed in the Assembly, and sent to the Governor," he said.

Vikramarka explained that the previous BRS government, during the 2018 local body elections, had imposed a 50% cap on total reservations through legislation.

"We repealed that law and issued an ordinance to restore justice. Two Bills - one for local body reservations and another for education and employment - were unanimously passed and sent to the Governor," he said.

The Deputy CM said that the government had already taken all the necessary steps - a Cabinet resolution, a survey, the appointment of a dedicated commission, and a unanimous Assembly approval - and yet the BJP government at the Centre had been obstructing the implementation of the BC Reservation Bill for months.

"It is the BJP government at the Centre that is solely responsible for blocking 42% reservations for BCs. The true nature of the BJP has now become clear not only to the people of Telangana but to the entire nation," he said.

Vikramarka also said that although the Telangana government had repeatedly written to the Centre seeking permission for an all-party delegation to meet the President and the Prime Minister regarding the BC Bill, no approval was granted.

"Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and all political parties in Telangana are ready to go to Delhi under the leadership of the BJP to press for the Bill's approval. But the Centre is not even granting us an appointment," he said. He urged Union ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, and State BJP President N Ramchander Rao, to take the initiative to arrange meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President for the approval of the BC Bill.

"I also appeal to the people to participate in the BC Bandh on October 18, which is being organised across the State in protest against the BJP," he said.