Priyanka Tiwari
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The Telangana Legislative Assembly has passed two bills aiming to increase the reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42% in educational institutions, government jobs, and local body elections.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed gratitude to all political parties for their support and emphasized the importance of securing Parliament's approval since the proposed 42% reservation exceeds the Supreme Court’s 50% cap on quotas.
CM Revanth Reddy Calls for National Consensus
CM Revanth Reddy proposed a united effort from all political parties to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and push for Parliament’s approval of the increased BC quota.
He specifically urged Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and BJP MLAs to facilitate an appointment with the Prime Minister. He also suggested meeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to advocate for the bills in Parliament.
Revanth Reddy argued that the Supreme Court's 50% cap on reservations was based on a lack of population data. However, Telangana has conducted the first-ever transparent caste survey, which revealed that BCs constitute 56.36% of the state's population.
"Since our survey has provided concrete data, it is our collective responsibility to ensure these bills get approved in Parliament during this session," he stated.
Congress' Commitment to BC Reservation
The Congress government reaffirmed its commitment to the BC Declaration made before the 2023 Assembly elections, which promised to:
- Increase BC reservations from 23% to 42% in local bodies.
- Ensure 42% reservation in government civil contracts and maintenance projects.
- Expand reservations to BCs in education, employment, and political representation.
In a social media post, CM Revanth Reddy called the approval of these bills a historic moment for BC communities.
"It is my honor to announce the fulfillment of a long-standing demand of the Backward Castes. We are now ensuring 42% reservations across all walks of life – education, jobs, and politics."
Opposition Support and CM’s Letter to PM Modi
The bills received support from opposition parties, including BRS, BJP, and AIMIM. Following their passage, CM Revanth Reddy wrote to PM Modi, formally requesting an appointment to discuss the bills and seek the Centre’s approval.
A release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that Revanth Reddy has requested a meeting with the leaders of Congress, BRS, BJP, AIMIM, and CPI to build a unified front on the issue.
"We urge the Central Government to support these bills and recognize the legitimate demand of the backward classes in Telangana," the letter stated.
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