KTR demands constitutional amendment for 42% BC reservations in Telangana

Hyderabad: Telangana Assembly passed a bill granting 42% reservations to Backward Classes in Panchayati Raj institutions, introduced by Minister D Seethakka. During the debate, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) demanded a constitutional amendment to remove the 50% cap on caste-based reservations.

KTR stated the bill lacked political and social context, while recalling that the BRS had supported the UPA during its earlier push for BC reservation. He addressed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s past remarks opposing implementation of the bill and noted that former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao had proposed an OBC Ministry and offered key posts to BCs, including Speaker, Council Chairman, and the state’s first Advocate General.

KTR slams Congress stance, backs 42% BC reservations with conditions

KTR said the BRS passed a resolution in the legislature calling for caste-based reservations and added that his party had awarded three protocol-ranked positions to BCs. He challenged CM Revanth Reddy’s shifting position on the reservation issue, stating the CM had changed his stand four times.

He demanded a separate session to discuss the BC Sub-Plan Act and asked Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to arrange it. Responding, Prabhakar assured that a discussion would be held. KTR urged the government to suggest corrections, if any, in the reservation bill and said consensus was essential.

Referring to a household survey, KTR said BCs made up 52% of Telangana’s population. He questioned how the Congress-led survey showed a drop of 6% and accused the government of excluding BRS to manipulate figures. Despite this, he said BRS supports the 42% BC reservations and will fully back the government on it.

KTR warned against any alterations to the bill without broad consensus. He said CM Revanth Reddy had visited Delhi 52 times but failed to push the bill forward. “If he is serious, let him sit on a hunger strike in Delhi,” KTR challenged. He concluded that if Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi discussed it, the matter could be resolved in 30 minutes.