A Government Order bringing the Brahmin Welfare Corporation under the control of the Backward Classes Welfare Department in Andhra Pradesh has angered Brahmin groups across the state for having been included with the OBCs.
Hitherto, the Brahmin welfare corporation was under the purview of the Revenue (Endowments) department, and the gazette notification issued by chief secretary Adityanath Das on September 23 sought to transfer the same to the Backward Classes (BC) welfare department.
The notification said necessary amendments would be made to the second schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Government Business Rules, 2018. “The decision was taken to improve the synergy among various welfare corporations and make it part of Economically Weaker Sections Corporations in the BC welfare department,” the chief secretary said.
Former chairman of AP Brahmin Welfare Corporation Vemuri Ananda Surya said the gazette notification bringing Brahmin welfare under the BC Welfare Department was atrocious and showed how much contempt the Jagan Mohan Reddy government had towards Brahmins.
“This is not only insulting the Brahmin community but also an attempt to create differences between Brahmins and OBCs. Before the last assembly elections, the YSRC had promised to allot ₹1,000 crore for Brahmin welfare in every budget and construct Brahmin Bhavans in every district. Instead of honouring the promise, the Jagan government is clubbing the Brahmin welfare with that of the OBCs,” Surya said.
He warned of state-wide agitation by Brahmins, if the government does not withdraw the gazette notification. All India Brahmin Federation members said it was the question of self-respect for Brahmins. These Brahmin community groups are demanding the state government to create a separate department for Economically Weaker Sections and bring the Brahmin Welfare Corporation under its purview.
The Brahmin Welfare Corporation was set up under the previous Chandrababu Naidu government in September 2014 under the Revenue Department. Now, this latest decision of the Jagan government also angered Brahmin seers.
Reacting on this, Swami Swaroopananda, said: “We strongly oppose the move to bring Brahmin welfare corporations into the purview of the BC Welfare Department. We shall discuss the issue with the chief minister’s office to see that the notification is withdrawn.” Interestingly, this seer is also considered to be the spiritual advisor to the current chief minister.
