BRS accuses Congress, BJP of deceiving BCs over 42 per cent reservation in local bodies

BRS leaders criticised the Congress and BJP for failing to ensure 42 per cent BC reservation in Telangana's local bodies. They accused both parties of using BCs for votes and warned of launching protests if the promises were not fulfilled

Hyderabad: BRS leaders have lashed out at the Congress government over its failure and double standards on increasing reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies in Telangana. They said both Congress and BJP were playing a drama over the issue, using BCs merely as a vote bank.

Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, former Minister V Srinivas Goud said the Congress government’s ordinance to raise BC reservations to 42 per cent was stuck with the Governor for clearance, while the bills sent to the President remained pending. “Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy knew the State lacked the power to increase reservations, and yet, sent the ordinance to the Governor. He is not even making efforts with the Centre to get the pending bills approved,” he charged.

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Srinivas Goud also accused the BJP of obstructing BC reservations by citing Muslim reservations as an excuse. He questioned why BC quotas exist in BJP-ruled States, if the party was opposed to it or was only raising the issue with political motives. “Unless BC reservations are included in the Ninth Schedule, nothing will change. Both the parties are aware of it, but are making no efforts in this regard,” he added.

Former MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar stated that the Congress had promised 42 per cent BC reservations in its election manifesto and must implement it before the local body polls. “BCs are not ready to get fooled again. If the Congress delays it any further, we will launch a people’s movement along with BC organisations to mount pressure on the government,” he said.