Will go on fast unto death if demands are not met in a month, says Ramachandra Yadav

GUNTUR: Declaring that Backward Classes would no longer tolerate “systemic injustice and political tokenism,” BCY leader Bode Ramachandra Yadav on Sunday launched a blistering attack on successive govts and demanded sweeping reforms, including reservations for BCs in private sector firms.

He warned that he would go on fast unto death if their demands including enactment of BC protection law, were not met within a month. Addressing a massive gathering at BC Simha Garjana public meeting held at Nagarjuna University, Ramachandra Yadav described the day as a historic turning point in the struggle of BC communities, whom he called the numerical majority and economic backbone of the state. He said BCs, who constitute around 52% of the population, toil in agriculture, small-scale industries, handicrafts, and daily wage sectors, yet remain deprived of proportional representation in education, employment, and political power. In a sharp criticism of the ruling dispensation led by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, he alleged that BC welfare has been systematically sidelined while dominant upper-caste communities continue to corner benefits. He further charged that govt recruitment examinations are being “tweaked and manipulated” to favour upper castes, resulting in grave injustice to BCs and SCs. “Merit is being distorted to maintain social dominance,” he alleged, demanding complete transparency in recruitment processes.

Yadav demanded extending BC reservations to private companies, arguing that with shrinking public sector jobs, social justice cannot remain confined to govt employment alone. “If private firms benefit from public resources and concessions, they must also share social responsibility,” he asserted. Ramachandra Yadav outlined five core demands including enactment of a comprehensive BC Rights Protection Law; allocation of 1,000 acres in the capital region for BC families; substantial funding for BC Corporations; immediate conduct of a caste census in Andhra Pradesh; and 44% reservation for BCs in education, employment, local bodies, and legislative bodies in proportion to their population. Invoking social reformers like Jyotirao Phule, B. R. Ambedkar and Karpoori Thakur, he called upon BC youth and women to unite and intensify the movement. “Just 34 MLAs belong to BCs of the total 175 MLAs in the state. SC, STs got due recognisation thanks to the reservations provided by the constitution. We need 55 percent reservation in proportion to our population,” demanded Yadav. Warning that BCs would no longer remain silent spectators, he vowed sustained agitation until justice is secured, positioning himself as a combative voice for BCs, SCs, STs and minorities across the state.