BRS, BJP To Support BC Bandh Call On October 18
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have extended their support to the October 18 bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Backward Class (BC) groups demanding 42 per cent reservation in local bodies.
Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have extended their support to the October 18 bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Backward Class (BC) groups demanding 42 per cent reservation in local bodies.
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao expressed their full support after R. Krishnaiah, chairman of the JAC, met both leaders on Wednesday. Krishnaiah said that the JAC had the backing of 170 associations, including 135 BC caste-based groups and 35 BC organisations.
Krishnaiah, who is also an MP and national president of the BC Welfare Association, said the bandh was being organised to protest the High Court’s stay order on the government’s decision to provide 42 per cent reservation for BCs. “It is unfair for the High Court to stay a government order that constitutionally grants 42 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies,” he said.
He argued that no court in India has ever intervened after the issuance of an election notification. “How can the court issue a stay without even hearing the petitioners’ arguments? This goes against the Supreme Court’s verdict. Thousands of nominations were filed before the order came. How can such a stay be issued after the notification?” he asked.
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao reiterated his party’s complete support for the BC bandh on October 18, asserting that the BRS would continue to fight for justice for Backward Classes.
After meeting Krishnaiah and other BC leaders, Rama Rao criticised the Congress and BJP for what he called their “lack of commitment” to implementing 42 per cent BC reservations. He said the Congress had made contradictory statements, ranging from constitutional amendments and ordinances to bills and even linking the issue to Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister. “Their changing stance exposes their lack of sincerity. The BRS will continue to hold them accountable,” Rama Rao said.
Meanwhile, BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao, after his meeting with Krishnaiah, said that his party’s leaders and cadre would actively participate in the bandh. He asserted that the BJP remains committed to the BC cause and accused the Congress of unfairly blaming the BJP for its own failure to ensure quota implementation.
