HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Thursday extended his party’s support to the bandh call given by the BC JAC, demanding enhancement of Backward Classes (BC) reservations to 42 per cent in local body elections.
The BC associations are scheduled to stage the bandh on October 18.
A delegation of BC leaders, led by BJP MP and BC Welfare Association national president R Krishnaiah and BC Association leader Jajula Srinivas, met Mahesh Goud at Gandhi Bhavan and urged him to support the bandh. Responding positively, the TPCC chief announced the Congress’ full support.
Later speaking to reporters, Mahesh Goud reiterated that the Congress government in Telangana is fully committed to providing 42 per cent reservations to BCs. He said the government would not take a backward step on the issue and recalled that the Socio-Economic, Education, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) survey was conducted scientifically in line with Rahul Gandhi’s assurance.
He accused the BJP and BRS of creating obstacles to the implementation of increased BC reservations. “These parties supported the BC Bills in the Assembly but are now stalling them outside. The BRS and BJP have a secret understanding,” he alleged.
The TPCC chief challenged the BJP to explain why its leaders were reluctant to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly and include them in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. He appealed to all political parties to set aside political differences and stand united on the BC reservation issue.
Reaffirming the Congress’s resolve to fight both legally and politically, he said: “The Supreme Court has directed us to approach the high court on the issue of BC reservations. The government will present a strong argument before the high court to justify the 42 per cent quota.”