Is BJP Really Blocking 42 Percent Reservation for Backward Classes?

Hyderabad, July 23 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, accused the BJP on Wednesday of obstructing 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) under the pretext of the Muslim community. He claimed that the leaders of the saffron party were engaging in sentiment-driven politics by asserting that they would support the 42 percent quota for BCs if Muslims were excluded from the BC list.

During a press conference in Delhi, he emphasized that Muslims receive reservation benefits based on their backwardness.

He challenged the BJP to eliminate Muslim reservations in states governed by them or their allies, questioning why they haven't revoked the Muslim quota in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.

He accused the BJP of employing double standards regarding Muslim reservations, seeking to gain political advantage by inciting emotions.

“You cannot apply one standard of justice in Telangana and another in other states,” he remarked.

He warned that if the BJP opposes the Backward Class reservation, it risks being eradicated from Telangana.

Revanth Reddy, alongside several state ministers and Congress leaders, traveled to the national capital to garner support from various parties for the inclusion of two state laws for 42 percent Backward Class reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

The Chief Minister recalled that the state assembly had passed two Bills for the 42 percent quota for BCs in education, employment, and public life, which were forwarded to the Centre for inclusion in the 9th Schedule.

Revanth Reddy also noted that local body elections must take place in the state by September, as directed by the High Court. “If 42 percent seats in local bodies are to be allocated for BCs, the Centre needs to provide its approval,” he said.

The Chief Minister argued that there is no validity to the claim that total reservations cannot exceed 50 percent, asserting that the Centre surpassed this threshold long ago with the 10 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Additionally, he demanded that a leader from Telangana be appointed as the Vice-President of India.

Revanth Reddy proposed that Bandaru Dattatreya, whose term as Governor of Haryana recently concluded, should be considered for the Vice Presidency. He alleged that Dattatreya, an OBC leader, was neglected in favor of making G. Kishan Reddy a union minister. He pointed out that Bandi Sanjay was replaced as state BJP president by a Brahmin leader.