CM says his comment reflects govt.’s commitment for all-round development of marginalised sections

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy clarified that his comment, “I am the king, I am the Minister” is aimed at reaffirming the government’s commitment to working towards the all-round development of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

“I am the Chief Minister and I am holding the Municipal Administration portfolio. The comment has been made keeping in view the results of the recently concluded elections to urban local bodies,” he said. People reposed their confidence in the ruling party and ensured that it won over 85% of the ULBs in the just concluded polls.

The remark is aimed at reiterating the responsibility cast upon me (Mr. Revanth Reddy) for ensuring the Congress’ victory in majority of the municipal bodies but people thought it otherwise.

The Chief Minister took an indirect jibe at the main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi for their attitude that ‘they are born to govern’. Mr. Revanth Reddy made the remarks speaking at the meeting organised in connection with Sant Sevalal‘s birth anniversary here on Sunday.

He said the government was committed to making marginalised sections part of the governance and hence, gave 30% posts to scheduled castes against their population of 15%. There were four Ministers from the SC community in the Cabinet and the Assembly Speaker too hailed from the same community.

He recalled his association with the lambada community since the beginning of his political career two decades ago and said the government was firm on giving respect due to these communities. Accordingly, orders had been issued to lay BT roads to all tribal hamlets for providing them connectivity, and a school would be sanctioned for each hamlet. Steps would be taken to construct panchayat buildings in these tribal hamlets, as also for the provision of safe drinking water through solar-powered pumpsets.

“Public distribution card (ration card) is a symbol of self-respect to the poor, and we are providing fine rice through PDS to 3.15 crore poor,” he said. This was in addition to 200 units free power supply and houses to 50 lakh poor.

The government had incurred ₹9,000 crore expenditure in two years through free bus travel to women and steps had been taken to set up solar power plants operated by women self help groups. In addition to ensuring vacation of stay on Group – I recruitments, the government had provided 70,000 jobs, including the unemployed from SC, ST and BC communities, in the last two years.