BRS questions Congress, BJP claims on BC reservations

BRS leader B. Vinod Kumar criticised both Congress and BJP for delaying enhanced BC reservations in Telangana. He urged inclusion of the proposal in the Ninth Schedule and demanded action from PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi instead of political stunts ahead of elections.

Hyderabad: BRS senior leader and former MP B Vinod Kumar slammed both Congress and BJP over the delay in implementing increased BC reservations in Telangana. He said both the national parties were deceiving the BCs with empty promises and political stunts ahead of local body elections, instead of concrete initiatives like its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule to prove their commitment.

Addressing a press meet at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Vinod Kumar pointed out that the Congress government’s push for increased BC reservations through an ordinance was unviable. He questioned how the State could expect approval for a BC ordinance when a bill on the same issue is already pending with the Centre.

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“If the Congress is serious, they should demand inclusion of the BC reservation hike in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution,” he said.

The former MP stated that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have the power to pass it in the Parliament within an hour, if they truly cared for BCs. He said instead of staging dharna in Delhi, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy should pressure both Modi and Rahul Gandhi in this regard. He demanded Rahul Gandhi to introduce a private member bill and pressurise the Centre.

Vinod Kumar also ridiculed BJP State president N Ramchandra Rao’s promise to appoint a BC Chief Minister, if BJP comes to power. He questioned why the BJP never pushed for the BC reservations in the Parliament, get the Presidential approval for the Bills sent from Telangana or made the BC its State president.

BRS general secretary Soma Bharat Kumar and legal cell representatives were also present.