Andhra Pradesh, like Karnataka, should ensure quota in contracts: Congress leader Chinta Mohan

Former Union Minister Chinta Mohan. File

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Chinta Mohan on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) said that Andhra Pradesh, like Karnataka, should reserve 24% of contracts for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes communities and 15% for the Other Backward Classes.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada, the Congress leader raised serious concern over the decision of the State Cabinet to implement categorisation of the SCs and said it would lead to division and discord between various castes and regions, ultimately threatening national unity. He said India was a land of multiple religions, castes, languages and regions “but such division has led to increasing tensions between these groups”.

Mr. Chinta Mohan questioned the necessity for introducing a Bill in Parliament on the assents of the Muslim Waqf Board. He criticised Pithapuram MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s views on Sanatana Dharma, asserting that the true Sanatana Dharma is about removing untouchability, helping the hungry and providing for the sick, as reflected in the actions of Christian missionaries in the past.

He opposed the privatisation of key assets such as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and also the Tirupati International airport, and urged the Centre to withdraw the proposals.