Congress’ caste census in Telangana is flawed, says Kavitha; warns of rail roko on July 17

BRS MLC K Kavitha slammed the Telangana Congress for a flawed caste census and demanded immediate OBC reservations. She warned of protests if the BC Reservation Bill isn’t passed and urged PM Modi and President Murmu to support it

Hyderabad: Telangana Jagruthi president and BRS MLC K Kavitha on Tuesday stated that the caste census carried out by the Congress government in Telangana was a “corrupt Congress model.” She said the data was deeply flawed and hence, Congress was hesitant to release it.

Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, Kavitha said the census under the Revanth Reddy government showed a six per cent discrepancy in OBC numbers compared to the enumeration conducted under the BRS regime. Similarly, she pointed to just one per cent rise in SC and ST population. She reminded me that although the then UPA government conducted a caste census in 2011, the data was not released.

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“Rahul Gandhi should not insult the people of Telangana by branding this manipulated data as a Telangana model,” she said. Instead, Rahul Gandhi should direct Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to issue orders under Section 243(d) of the Constitution, enabling 42 per cent OBC reservation in local body elections, she said, demanding the Congress government to approve it in the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday and prove its commitment to the BC reservations.

The BRS MLC also appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to give her assent to the BC Reservation Bill passed by the Telangana Legislature. “All parties supported the Bill. It is now pending with the President. We urge her to approve it at the earliest,” she said.

She also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reminding him of his OBC background and urging him to act in favour. “The BJP promised an OBC Chief Minister. Now, they have a chance to prove their commitment by ensuring OBC reservations in Telangana,” she said. She stated that the constitutional provision for BC reservations, is the only solution for their empowerment.

Terming the upcoming rail roko protest to be organised by Telangana Jagruthi in association with various BC organisations and political parties on July 17 a trailer, Kavitha said unless the BC reservations were not granted, no train from the Deccan region would be allowed to reach Delhi.

Kavitha criticised both the BJP and Congress for making electoral promises without follow-through. “If either party wants to gain people’s trust in Telangana, they must ensure this Bill becomes law,” she said.

Responding to questions from the media, she asserted that Telangana Jagruthi had no plans to contest in the upcoming local body polls as the BRS was already in the race. She urged the media not to pose questions only to corner the BRS.