BC associations burn GO 46 copies in Karimnagar, accuse government of betraying community

Activists of the BC Welfare Association staged a protest in Karimnagar on Sunday, burning copies of GO 46 and accusing the State government of betraying the Backward Classes by reducing their reservation in local body elections from 42 per cent to 22 per cent. The protesters alleged that the Congress government had broken its manifesto promise and damaged the community’s political future.

Karimnagar: Activists of the BC Welfare Association burnt copies of GO 46 here on Sunday, protesting against the State government’s decision to revise the reservations for Backward Classes in local body elections.

Gathering at Telangana Chowk, the protesters set fire to copies of the order and raised slogans against the government, alleging that it was suppressing the aspirations of the BC community by cutting reservation percentages to what they were earlier, instead of the 42 percent promised by the Congress government and for which it had issued government orders earlier.

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They said the move was an axe to the political future of the community and a conspiracy to keep BCs away from political power. The activists stated that the Congress, which had promised 42 percent reservation for BCs in its election manifesto, had now reduced it to 22 percent, breaking its assurance to the community.

They further maintained that the issue of 42 percent reservation was pending before the High Court and that the government still had a chance to win the case. However, by issuing GO 46, the government had damaged the hopes and aspirations of BCs, they alleged.

Accusing both the State and Central governments of conspiring to reduce reservation for BCs, the protesters warned of intensifying their agitation if the government did not withdraw the GO.