TG To Seek MPs’ Support For BC Quota
Responding to concerns over the feasibility of including the reservation Bill in the 9th Schedule within a short period, Bhatti said the government was prepared to face any eventuality
HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday announced that a high-level delegation led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would visit New Delhi to meet leaders of political parties and MPs to seek support for the legislation to provide 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes communities in local body elections and for inclusion of caste data in the national census.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Bhatti said the state’s recently completed socio-economic caste survey was a transparent, scientific and data-driven exercise, which has drawn national attention for its inclusive “Telangana Model”. He credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for conceptualising the initiative and claimed it has influenced national discourse.
“The Congress government in Telangana has created a situation where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is forced to retreat from his earlier stand in Parliament and announce a caste census,” he stated.
Bhatti said the Revanth-led delegation, which will include key ministers, will present the survey’s methodology and findings to the Congress central leadership and reach out to MPs across party lines to build consensus on enabling caste data inclusion at the national level.
Responding to concerns over the feasibility of including the reservation Bill in the 9th Schedule within a short period, Bhatti said the government was prepared to face any eventuality. “Those who supported the Bill in the State Assembly must ensure their leaders in Delhi back it too,” he said, adding that the state government is approaching the issue with a positive outlook.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to social justice, Bhatti said its policy decisions are anchored in comprehensive data. He stressed the need for broad political support to ensure effective implementation of the 42 per cent BC quota in local body elections. He added that the government is hopeful Governor Jishnu Dev Varma will approve the ordinance related to the increased BC quota, noting that the legal framework is watertight.