High-level delegation to Delhi to seek cooperation of national political parties in passage of BC quota enhancement Bill  

As the Central government is yet to give its consent for enhancing reservations to Backward Classes to 42%, the State government has decided to lead a delegation to meet various political parties at the national level seeking their cooperation in speedy passage of the Bill passed by the Telangana legislature.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to lead a delegation comprising Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers and others to meet leaders of all political parties during the ongoing session of the Parliament. “We are confident that the Bill will receive the Centre’s consent,” Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka said.

He said the government had conducted the social, economic, education, employment, political and caste survey in a scientific and transparent manner and this survey had become a role model for the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was initially reluctant about the caste survey had agreed to include caste enumeration in the next census operations. “Telangana’s survey has become a reference point for the Central government as well as for States that intend to conduct a similar survey,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister recalled that the Bill passed by the State Legislature was sent to the Union Home Ministry and President’s office for their consent. In the meantime, it was decided to lead a high-level delegation to the national capital to meet the heads of all political parties and explain them about the salient features of the Bill envisaging 42% reservation to BC community in line with their population.

The delegation will meet Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his counterpart in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and submit the details of the survey, including the empirical data collected during the survey. The survey had been a great success owing to the methodology with which it was conducted starting with meetings of stakeholders at different levels.

“There were doubts in the minds of people when the legislature passed a resolution urging the Centre to conduct caste survey across the country. But the Telangana model has inspired the Central government to include caste component in the next census operations,” he said. This was followed by verification of the data by independent group of experts which validated the data after a rigorous exercise.

Based on the data, the government had drafted an ordinance providing 42% reservation to BC communities and it was awaiting the assent of Governor Jishnu Dev Varma. “The expert group’s report will be made public after the Cabinet ratifies it and the legislature approves it,” he said in reply to a query.

To a question on BRS’ charge that the survey was aimed at hoodwinking the BCs, he said: “There is no need to strictly follow the established procedure if that has been the case. But we have followed the methodology that has now become a role model for the country,” he said.

Reply to BJP president’s notice

Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka made light of the legal notice served on him by BJP state president N. Ramachander Rao claiming that he stood by whatever he had said. “His (Mr. Ramachander Rao’s) role in the Hyderabad Central University incident is known. I am not afraid of legal notices. I will reply to the notice when the time comes,” he averred.