Ponnam urges all parties to back 42 percent BC quota in local bodies

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged all political parties to file affidavits in the High Court supporting the Congress government’s move to provide 42 percent reservations to BCs in local bodies. He said Bills were passed and sent for presidential approval.

Hyderabad: Claiming that the Congress government was committed to extending 42 percent reservations to BCs in local bodies, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Monday said all parties should submit affidavits in the court to support the move.

The Minister said the Congress government had conducted a caste survey, constituted a dedicated commission, formed a Cabinet Sub Committee and passed Bills in the Assembly and Council after all parties extended their support. These were then sent to the President of India for approval, he said at a press conference here.

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He added that the State government had also issued GO Ms 9 providing 42 percent reservations to BCs. A hearing on the matter was scheduled in the High Court, where the government would present its case.

“All the parties should submit affidavits in the High Court announcing their support to the Bills passed in the Assembly,” he added.