Ponnala recalls contributions of Phule and BRS to reservations

Ponnala Lakshmaiah highlighted the historical events related to reservation policies, emphasizing their importance as an eye-opener for the ruling parties.

Hyderabad: Recalling the contributions of Jyothi Rao Govindrao Phule (Jyothibha Phule), the anti- caste crusader on his death anniversary to social reform and the fight against untouchability, BRS leader and former Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Thursday expressed regret that, despite 75 years of independence, these issues are still being debated with concern. Coming down heavily on the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for passing the Women Reservation Bill without including an OBC element, he called its only contribution from the BJP government just before the parliamentary elections after nine years in power.

He highlighted the historical events related to reservation policies, emphasizing their importance as an eye-opener for the ruling parties. In 1891, Maharaja Chatrapati Shahu of Kolhapur introduced reservations, he said recalling that in 1918, Mysore Raja Krishnaraja Wadiyar formed a committee to implement reservations.Again in 1921, the Justice Party government was the first to legislate on reservations. In 1919 and 1925, the British government introduced elements of reservation in the Government of India Act. In 1927, the Madras Presidency provided reservations.

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In 1979, the Mandal Commission was established. In 2014, the BRS government in Telangana made a big move in this direction by conducting the Samagra Kutumba Survey, the first of its kind in India. The Congress party approach to reservations lacked sincerity, he said calling its socio- economic survey a mere eye-wash.