Hyderabad: State IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu said on Saturday that the Congress government remains fully committed to implementing 42% BC reservations in local body elections, but accused the BJP-led Centre and Governor of stalling key legislative approvals.
Speaking at a press meet in Tadicherla, Sridhar Babu said the Congress had passed the BC reservation bill in the Assembly based on Rahul Gandhi’s Kamareddy Declaration and sent it for Presidential assent, which is still pending. A Cabinet-approved ordinance on the same issue is also awaiting the Governor’s nod, he added.
Sridhar Babu said the BJP has shown no genuine intent on BC rights and challenged its MPs and MLAs to push for the inclusion of the BC bill in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule. “If they truly care, they should join the Congress in demanding this change,” he said.
In protest against the delay, Sridhar Babu announced a dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on August 5, 6, and 7, to be led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He criticised the BRS for failing to pass a BC quota law during its 10 years in power and accused it of shedding crocodile tears now for political gain.
He urged BRS leaders to prove their sincerity by joining the Delhi protest.
Separately, Sridhar Babu felicitated Dandu Ramesh of Tadicherla for being appointed to the NREGS State Council, calling it a recognition of Dalit leadership.
