Reservation agitation reaches Delhi; CM to lead dharna at Jantar Mantar today

The fight for BC reservations has now reached the national capital and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is all set to lead a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, demanding the passage of bills ensuring 42% reservations for Backward Classes in local body elections, education and employment sectors.

The Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues reached New Delhi on Tuesday evening while a special train left from Cherlapally station on Monday morning. The CM and the Ministers were welcomed with banners and posters hung across Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi and also at several places in the national capital.

To intensify pressure on the Centre, CM Revanth Reddy will be staging a dharna today at Jantar Mantar. He will be joined by Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, several ministers, MLAs, MLCs, corporation chairpersons and leaders from BC communities.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to attend the protest and extend his solidarity. Leaders from INDIA Bloc parties, including the Samajwadi Party, DMK, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), will also take part and express their support for the ongoing struggle under the leadership of CM Revanth Reddy.

Inspired by the slogan ‘Jitni Aabadi, Utna Hissedari’ (Equal share for equal population) coined by Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress-led Telangana government conducted the Social, Economic, Educational, Employment and Political Caste Survey (SEEEPC) within 18 months of coming to power.

Based on its findings, the State passed bills in the Legislative Assembly to provide 42% reservations to BCs. These now await approval from the Central government. Congress leaders say that BJP leaders who had supported these bills in the Telangana Assembly are now backtracking and using Muslims as an excuse to derail BC reservations by indulging in emotional politics.

The Chief Minister will be in New Delhi for three days and has also sought an appointment with the President of India. The Telangana delegation will also meet leaders of other parties during their stay.