Revanth vows to implement 42 pc BC quota after Rahul Gandhi becomes PM

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that the Congress would implement 42-percent reservations for backward classes after winning the next Parliamentary elections and Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister. He emphasised Congress's commitment to both legal and political routes to enforce the reservation policy.

Hyderabad: Shifting from his earlier stance on the implementation of 42 percent reservations for backward classes, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said the Congress would implement the quota after winning the next Parliamentary elections and once Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime Minister.

Speaking to media persons in Delhi, he also blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for blocking an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu for the Telangana Cabinet.

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The Telangana Ministers had sought the President’s appointment 10 days ago. They had informed the President’s Office that the delegation would be available in New Delhi on August 5 and 6 to submit a representation, appealing for approval of the two Bills passed in the State Assembly, he said.

“The entire State Cabinet has been waiting for the President’s appointment. Unfortunately, we could not get it. This is a humiliation for Telangana and its people,” Revanth Reddy said.

He alleged that the BJP was hatching conspiracies to usurp the rights of BCs. Under the guise of accusing the Congress of extending reservations to Muslims, the BJP was trying to oppose the 42 percent reservations for BCs, he said.

“Reservations are being extended on an en bloc basis, not on caste or community basis,” the Chief Minister asserted, demanding that the BJP spell out its stand on BC reservations and introduce a Bill in Parliament.

Despite the Telangana Cabinet staying put in the national capital for the last three days, there had been no cooperation from the Centre, he said.

Both the Congress party and the State government would explore all legal and political options to implement the 42 percent BC reservations. Since the Governor had sent the Bills for the President’s assent, the other alternative would be to extend political party-wise reservations in the panchayat elections, he said.

Claiming that several MPs from different parties had supported the Congress protest at Jantar Mantar, he said change does not happen overnight. The Congress had done its best to mount pressure on the Centre, he added.

“After the Congress wins the next Parliamentary elections and Rahul Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister, we will implement 42 percent reservations for BCs,” Revanth Reddy said.