BRS exposes Congress tactic of misleading people on BC reservations

BRS accused the Congress government of lacking commitment in extending 42 per cent BC reservations, questioned the new Bills’ credibility, demanded parliamentary pressure, and highlighted past judicial hurdles, while extending support to Municipalities and Panchayat Raj Amendment Bills in Telangana Assembly

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Sunday said the Congress government lacked commitment in extending 42 per cent reservations to BCs in local body elections and demanded that it stop misleading people over the issue.

At the same time, the BRS extended unconditional support to the Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill and the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill introduced in the Assembly.

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Participating in the debate, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy alleged that the BRS was trying to create apprehensions among people. Holding the previous government responsible for failing to enhance reservations, he said the BRS had also not participated in the dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

“We wrote five letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an appointment and to exert pressure on the union government, but there was no response,” Revanth Reddy said.

Countering his claims, BRS working president KT Rama Rao demanded the government explain the difference between the Bills presented in March this year and those introduced on Sunday. He said the Congress was trying to mislead people by introducing Bills, issuing an ordinance, assuring a constitutional amendment, proposing political party-wise reservations, and then bringing fresh Bills again.

“When Governor Jishnu Dev Varma did not approve the ordinance issued earlier, how will he approve the new Bills passed today? Whom is the Congress trying to mislead?” Rama Rao asked.

Intervening, Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said they would approach the Governor with positive intent and expressed hope that he might change his mind. “The BRS has to shed its negative approach,” he said.

Rama Rao retorted that the Congress government should show commitment. He insisted that no matter how many debates take place in the Assembly, the State government must exert pressure on the Centre, raise the issue in Parliament, and pursue amendments.

“When Congress MP Rahul Gandhi campaigns on Vote Chori, why cannot he raise the BC reservations issue in Parliament?” Rama Rao questioned.

The BRS leader reminded that when the previous BRS government issued GOM 396 to increase BC reservations, Congress leader and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s relative, Gopal Reddy from Mahabubnagar, had moved the High Court, stalling the exercise.

Stating that scientifically drafted Bills would withstand judicial scrutiny, Rama Rao wondered how the Chief Minister, who had visited New Delhi 52 times in 20 months, had failed to get an appointment with the Prime Minister.

“The Chief Minister himself said at public programmes that he was not offered appointments by Ministers and officers, with many in Delhi looking at him as if he was a ‘chappal thief’,” Rama Rao reminded.

Former Minister Gangula Kamalakar, too, picked holes in the government’s claims. He said if reservations could be extended merely by passing Bills and issuing orders, the State government should have done it earlier.

“Unless reservations are included in the Ninth Schedule, they cannot withstand judicial review. This is what happened in Bihar and Rajasthan,” Kamalakar said. He also demanded that the government table the Busani Venkateshwara Rao Commission report in the House.