Ponnam flays BJP for comments on 42% BC quota, says party always favoured capitalists

Senior Congress leader and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has criticised Telangana BJP leaders, particularly Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, for ‘commenting’ against the government’s decision to enhance the quota for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42% in proportion to their population.

“BJP was in the forefront in its efforts to dilute the benefits of BCs since the Mandal Commission days, as the party continues to harbour a ‘feudalistic mindset’. The party always worked for the interests of capitalists and never served the interests of BC communities,” he told the media in New Delhi on Friday.

He strongly condemned the remarks made by Mr. Kishan Reddy against the caste survey conducted by the Telangana government, in line with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s call for “jitni hissedari, utni bhagedari” (benefits in proportion with population).

“BJP announced that a leader from the weaker sections would be made the Chief Minister whenever the party comes to power in Telangana. This promise comes at a time when they did not even make a BC MLA as leader of the legislature party,” he said, adding that Union MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who is from the BC community, was removed from the post of Telangana BJP chief.

“N. Ramchander Rao, who fought against the Mandal Commission report, was recently made the State BJP president. And he is questioning the government’s plan to give 42% quota to BCs. Everybody knows that BJP has won the elections in collusion with BRS,” he said, and recalled how Chief Minister A. Revanth reddy had requested Mr. Kishan Reddy to facilitate an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interests of the weaker sections but to no avail.

Caste organisations and those who are working for the cause of BCs would not allow BJP leaders into the State if the party continued to oppose BCs. “We have adopted a wait-and-watch approach to ensure that 42% quota for BCs is implemented in the State. BJP leaders should not create obstacles in the process,” he said, and advised the BC leaders in BJP not to toe the line of Mr. Kishan Reddy and Mr. Ramchander Rao.

He reiterated that Congress was committed to social justice and taking steps in that direction. “What did BJP do for BC communities, compared to the efforts put in by Congress?” he asked.