Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao on Monday demanded the Centre remove the 50 percent ceiling on reservations to allow for increased quotas for backward classes (BCs), challenging the BJP to prove its commitment to social justice.
At a press conference in Gandhi Bhavan, the former MP accused the BJP of consistent bias against BCs. Citing the recent selection of Telangana BJP state president, he noted that the party passed over two BC candidates in favour of an open category pick.
Rao said he doubted whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would ever back legislation supporting the BC community. He also asserted that Modi’s record showed a lack of real concern for backward classes.
He credited Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy with achieving what his predecessor K. Chandrashekar Rao could not during a decade in power, claiming the Congress government had secured key Centre-level outcomes through better coordination.
He further announced that the state government would implement 42 percent reservation for BCs in upcoming local body elections.
