Congress asks BJP to get the BC reservations approved by PM

Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged the BJP leadership to rise above politics and support the Congress government’s historic decision to implement 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections.

“BJP leaders should take this up with the Prime Minister and ensure its approval,” Mr. Prabhakar said speaking to the media along with Government Advisor K. Kesava Rao, Animal Husbandary Minister Vakiti Srihari, MLA Veerlapalli Shankar, and Fisheries Corporation Chairman Mettu Saikumar at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday.

Mr. Prabhakar reminded that Congress leaders led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy went to New Delhi and submitted requests to the Union Government to accept the Telangana government’s move.

He also criticised the BJP’s double standards on BC issues, saying, “They promised the CM post to a BC but removed BC leader Bandi Sanjay as the State BJP chief at a crucial time. Another BC leader Raja Singh resigned. Four BC MPs were ignored for the appointment of State BJP chief leading to its sincerity on promoting BC leadership.”

Advisor to Government and former MP K. Kesava Rao, who joined the Congress from the BRS, asked the BJP and BRS not to dilute a historic decision with political motives. He said it was a 45-year struggle that finally took shape because of the Congress. “If you oppose 42% reservations for BCs, you’ll face the backlash from the very people you claim to represent,” he told the opposition parties.

“In the Congress, even though the CM is from the Reddy community, weaker section leaders are empowered. Only Congress can ensure true social justice,” he said.

Mr. Vakiti Srihari said all the BC castes should form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to support the Congress like the JACs did during the Telangana movement. “We urge all BC leaders and weaker section groups in the Congress to come together,” he said.

The Congress leaders said the party has consistently moved toward empowering backward communities. “From the Kamareddy Declaration to the recent Cabinet decision, the Congress has never backed down,” they said. “It was the idea of Rahul Gandhi, executed by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud,” they added.