If Telangana’s BC reservation Bills don’t get approval, BJP will be proven anti-OBC: Revanth Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday led a dharna in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the President’s assent for two Bills passed by the State Assembly, to provide 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment, and local body elections. Mr. Reddy said if the Bills are not cleared, it will mean that the BJP is “against Backward Castes”. 

The Congress leader said his government had delivered on their promise to the people by conducting the caste census and passing the Bills for 42% Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation. The Bills are awaiting Presidential assent for the last four months. Mr. Reddy accused the Centre of being indifferent to the pleas of the State government regarding the Bills. “That is why we have decided to protest -- on the streets and in Parliament,” he said.

He also said that he and his Cabinet had sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu but hadn’t received any response. “If the Bill is not granted assent, it will be clear that the BJP is against Backward Castes. If we are denied an appointment with the President, and if Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi refuses to answer in Parliament, we will not return to Delhi. Instead, anyone from the BJP who comes to Telangana will have to answer for this. The BJP will be wiped out in Telangana,” he added. 

Addressing the crowd earlier, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said he hoped Mr. Modi, who claims to be a champion of the OBCs, would hear the voices of those suffering at the hands of his government in Telangana. Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav said the Modi-led government made lofty claims of taking care of Backward communities but rarely delivered on its promises. “Though the government claims they will count caste during the Census, we need to remain vigilant,” Mr. Yadav said. 

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a post on X thanked INDIA leaders who extended support to the protest and said, “This fight is not just for Telangana. It is a collective fight to ensure that Indians from marginalised communities have their rightful share in power and progress.”