Revanth Slams BJP Over Stalled BC Reservation Bill
The Congress government would ensure 42 per cent reservations for BCs at any cost and as many as 100 MPs and I.N.D.I.A bloc parties extended their support: CM
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy accused the BJP-led government at the Centre and President Droupadi Murmu of stalling two Bills passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly and an ordinance passed by the Telangana State Cabinet to provide 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes in education, employment, and local bodies.
Speaking at a Poru Bata (Protest March) held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, Revanth Reddy said that the Telangana government would not rest until the Bills and ordinance were approved, and vowed to continue the fight until BCs in the state were granted their rightful share.
Revanth Reddy expressed frustration with the delayed response from the Centre, claiming that the state government’s two key Bills — one seeking 42 per cent BC reservations in local body elections, education, and employment, and another ordinance to remove the 50 per cent cap on total reservations in local bodies — had been languishing with the President for over four months, despite being passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
“We have sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to meet her tomorrow to request that she clear the BC quota bills, but so far, there has been no response. We suspect that there is pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah on the President to stall these bills,” he said.
Revanth Reddy warned Modi to clear the BC quota Bills immediately, failing which, Congress workers and people from Backward Classes across the country would join hands to dethrone Modi, bring the Congress to power at the Centre in the 2029 general election, make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister, and achieve 42 per cent BC quota.
The Chief Minister criticised the handling of BC reservations, referring to past decisions by former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, whom he accused of undermining the potential for genuine BC reservations in the state. He also condemned earlier laws passed during the BRS government, particularly legislation that capped overall reservations in Telangana at 50 per cent, which he claimed had become a "hindrance" to increasing BC reservations.
Revanth Reddy noted that, despite these setbacks, the Congress government in Telangana had pushed forward with a comprehensive plan to ensure that local body elections and the education and employment sectors were fully inclusive of BCs. He stressed that the struggle was not just about increasing quotas but also about securing equal rights for the marginalised, calling it a “fight for justice.”
The protest in Delhi, which drew significant political attention, also saw participation from various MPs across the country, including Congress members and representatives from the I.N.D.I.A. bloc such as the Samajwadi Party, DMK, NCP, and Left parties. The support from national parties reflected a broader political alignment behind Telangana’s demand for enhanced BC quotas. “With this support, we are confident that our demand for 42 per cen BC reservations will be realised,” said Revanth, expressing optimism despite the challenges.
He also highlighted the Congress’ role in the BC movement, recalling that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had pledged to support the caste-based census and BC reservations. “Rahul Gandhi has stood firm with the BCs, and his commitment to justice for backward classes will be a guiding force in our continued struggle,” he added.
Revanth Reddy came down heavily on the BJP and Modi, accusing them of using the issue of Muslim reservations as a pretext to obstruct BC quotas.
“BJP leaders are raising unnecessary objections, claiming that we are giving reservations to Muslims, but the truth is that these reservations are based solely on the backwardness of castes, not religion. If the BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra can provide reservations to Muslims under the BC quota, why are they opposing it in Telangana?” Revanth Reddy demanded, challenging the BJP to end Muslim reservations in their own states first if they were truly concerned about such provisions.
Revanth Reddy also turned his focus to Modi, stating that if the Central government continued to block Telangana’s BC reservation initiatives, the people of Telangana would hold the Modi government accountable. “If these reservations are blocked, we will ensure that the BJP pays a price at the polls. Our fight will continue, and if necessary, we will take further action,” he warned.
