Latest news with #BCReservationBill
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BJP's betrayal of Backward Classes
As the Congress government in Telangana takes bold and unprecedented steps towards social justice, including successful completion of caste-based enumeration and the historic decision to enhance reservations for BCs from 27 per cent to 42 per cent, the opposition parties-particularly the BJP and BRS-seem rattled. Rather than welcoming these reforms, they appear determined to obstruct the process at every step, exposing their discomfort with the empowerment of backward and marginalised communities. Telangana now stands as a national model in its commitment to inclusivity. With Backward Classes (BCs), SCs, STs, and minorities constituting over 80 per cent of the nation's population, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi's vision of social equality is being translated into action by the Revanth Reddy-led state government. The passage of the BC Reservation Bill in both Houses of the Telangana Legislature is a landmark development that has been widely celebrated by weaker sections. However, what followed at the Centre has been deeply disappointing. Despite the state's formal plea to include the BC Reservation Bill under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, the Narendra Modi-led Union Government has chosen to drag its feet raising questions about its true commitment to social equity. The BJP's reluctance stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming support the initiative garnered from 15 national and regional parties, who participated in a massive protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding central approval. Ironically, the BRS and BJP, which extended support to the Bill in the Telangana Legislature, were conspicuously absent from the Delhi protest. Their absence has not gone unnoticed among BC organisations, who now question the sincerity of their support. This duplicity has led to growing resentment, with BC leaders accusing these parties of sabotaging their constitutional rights for political convenience. Faced with legal deadlines to conduct local body elections, the Telangana government brought in an Ordinance to implement enhanced reservations for BCs, a necessary step to avoid political injustice. Rather than supporting the move, the opposition began hurling baseless allegations and misinformation. The BRS, which had earlier slashed BC reservations from 34 per cent to 23 per cent during its tenure, now claims that the Congress government's decision may not stand legal scrutiny. Their sudden concern appears less about constitutionality and more about political one-upmanship. The BJP's double standards are even more glaring. While the party claims to oppose religion-based reservations, Muslims continue to enjoy BC status in BJP-ruled states such as Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Haryana. Yet, in Telangana, they raise objections under the guise of constitutional morality. This hypocrisy reveals the BJP's opportunistic politics and its tendency to weaponise identity based on regional strategies. Their claim that 42 per cent reservation violates the Supreme Court-mandated 50 per cent cap rings hollow, especially when the same BJP government at the Centre pushed the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) quota, breaching the 50 per cent ceiling and raising the total reservations to 59 per cent nationally. If legal barriers were not an issue, then, why now? Equally disingenuous is the assertion by state BJP leaders that including the BC Reservation Bill under the Ninth Schedule is 'not possible.' Precedents from Tamil Nadu and other states clearly demonstrate that the Ninth Schedule has been effectively used to protect affirmative action measures from judicial review. The BJP's unwillingness to do the same for Telangana's BCs only reaffirms its indifference, if not outright hostility, towards the socially marginalised. The BJP, despite its rhetoric, has rarely backed its words with action. Promises to elevate BCs to positions of power remain largely symbolic. The recent removal of MLA Raja Singh, a BC leader, from prominence within the Telangana BJP, and the appointment of upper-caste leaders to state-level positions, further expose the party's caste biases. The BC community, aware of these patterns, has every reason to feel betrayed. Telangana has shown the country what progressive, data-driven governance looks like. Caste enumeration, enhanced BC quotas, and targeted welfare mark a transformative phase under the Congress government. In contrast, the BJP's obstructionist tactics, combined with its sectarian undertones, are pulling the state, and the country, away from the inclusive ideals that are enshrined in the Constitution. If the BJP continues to undermine backward classes, and uses legal loopholes and communal narratives to deny them their rightful share, it risks not just political backlash, but also moral isolation. The people of Telangana, and indeed India, are watching. (The writer is Chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sanghatan, Telangana)
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kavitha demands Telangana CM's resignation over Banakacherla project
Telangana Jagruti President and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha demanded the resignation of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy accusing him and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy of 'deliberately handing over Telangana's rights on Godavari waters to Andhra Pradesh.' Speaking to the reporters in Hyderabad on Thursday (July 17, 2025), she alleged that the Chief Minister is deliberately misleading the people of Telangana by claiming that Banakacherla was not discussed during the meeting between the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh held in Delhi. 'Banakacherla was the first item on the agenda. This is nothing but an insult to Telangana,' she said. Ms. Kavitha reminded Mr. Revanth Reddy's open admission on his political schooling being the BJP, TDP as his college, and Congress as his job. 'Mr. Reddy is still stuck in his college days and gifting Telangana's precious resources to Chandrababu Naidu.' She announced that Telangana Jagruti would wage a legal battle to stop the Banakacherla project and called upon Mr. Revanth Reddy to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi during the upcoming Parliament sessions to demand justice for Telangana on both the BC Reservation Bill and the Banakacherla issue. 'If he doesn't act, Jagruti will go to Delhi and fight on behalf of Telangana,' she warned.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ponnam bristles at BJP, BRS for bid to stonewall BC ordinance
Hyderabad:Countering BJP MP Laxman over an ordinance for implementing 42 BC reservation in local body polls, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that the state government has the power to bring an ordinance when the Assembly is not in session. The ordinance has nothing to do with the bill with the President. He said that the BJP was trying to do politics over the ordinance. Speaking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, Ponnam suggested that all BC leaders in BRS and BJP should increase pressure on their high command regarding the implementation of BC reservations. He felt that BJP leaders were shedding crocodile tears over BC reservations and that Laxman was speaking out on the issue to influence the Governor. The Minister lashed out at the BJP and BRS for conspiring to put a damper on the momentum of the ordinance for implementing 42 percent reservations for BCs in local body elections. He urged the BRS and BJP parties to avoid negativity in the historic context of implementing reservations for BCs, as the government was going ahead by keeping in mind all legal aspects as per the court orders. Ponnam said that if Laxman's words carry weight within the party, he should press with the demand that the BC Reservation Bill to be cleared with the President. Ponnam accused the BJP of conspiring to block reservations citing 'Manuvada' tradition. In the past, reservations were brought in the name of the Mandal Committee, and the BJP opposed reservations in the name of Kamandal. He felt that Laxman was furious that the BJP had appointed a new president with a feudal mentality, while there was a discussion about BCs across the state.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Kavitha has no moral right to talk about BCs: Ponnam
Hyderabad: Condemning the attempts to politicise the BC Reservation Bill, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that MLC K Kavitha has no moral right to talk about BCs. He wondered what she was doing when the BRS was in power for close to a decade. Addressing media persons at Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, he urged BRS and BJP to not politicise the matter of BC reservation when efforts were being made for Centre's nod. He also asked BJP MP and BC leader R Krishnaiah to join hands in putting joint efforts so that the BCs are empowered. He invited all parties, including former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his allies, in building pressure on Centre. Ponnam Prabhakar urged Krishnaiah to accompany him to Delhi for seeking BC reservation. He asserted that the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and guided by Rahul Gandhi, is working sincerely for the welfare of Backward Classes, and has already sent the BC Bill to the Governor. Highlighting Rahul Gandhi's efforts, Ponnam held that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has been advocating empowerment of Backward Castes.
Hans India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
BC Welfare Assn meets Guv over 42 pc quota bill
Hyderabad: The BC Welfare Associations appealed to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to get the consent of BC quota bill from the President without any amendments. A BC leaders delegation called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan and thanked the latter for forwarding the BC bill to enhance the quota in education and jobs to 42 per cent to President Droupadi Murmu for her consent recently. On this occasion, the Association leader Jajula Srinivas Goud said that they discussed the caste census held in Telangana State, the BC Bill unanimously passed in the Assembly on BC reservations, as well as the recent decision of the Central Government's announcement to undertake a comprehensive caste census along with national census across the country. He said that the Governor was requested to use his special powers to get the 42 per cent BC Reservation Bill approved, as well as to lift the 50 per cent limit imposed on social reservations in the country, and to set up a separate ministry for OBCs at the Centre.
