42% BC quota bill: MLC Kavitha begins hunger strike; why stay quiet for 10 years, asks Congress

Hyderabad: BRS MLC and Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha Kalvakuntla on Monday launched a 72-hour hunger strike at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, pressing for 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment and local governance.

She demanded the immediate implementation of the Kamareddy BC Declaration promised by the Congress before the Assembly polls.

BCs must get their due, says Kavitha

Kavitha, flanked by Telangana Jagruthi activists, began the fast after paying floral tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Prof. Jayashankar. Addressing the gathering, she said BCs, who constitute over 50 per cent of Telangana’s population, continue to be underrepresented.

“Our fight for BC justice will be a historic milestone. The Congress government cannot backtrack on its promise,” she said, asserting that the demand was long overdue.

Congress accused of passing the buck to BJP

Taking aim at the Congress, Kavitha alleged that the ruling party was trying to shift blame to the BJP for the delay in implementing the 42 per cent reservation. Two bills passed by the Telangana Assembly to this effect are awaiting approval from the Centre.

“The Congress should respond to the BJP’s objections and clear the air. Instead, it’s hiding behind excuses,” she charged.

Kavitha seeks a separate 10% quota for Muslims

Kavitha urged the Chief Minister to announce that the 42 per cent reservation will be given solely to BCs, while Muslims will receive a separate 10 per cent quota. “If the Congress is sincere, it should introduce a bill in Parliament for Muslim reservation instead of clubbing it with BCs,” she said.

The BJP, meanwhile, has maintained that the bills would be approved by the Centre only if Muslims are excluded from the BC category.

Permission denied for the full protest duration

While Kavitha had planned a 72-hour hunger strike, the Hyderabad Police granted permission only until 5 pm Monday, citing regulatory constraints.

In response, Telangana Jagruthi moved the High Court seeking directions to allow the protest for the full planned duration. The matter is expected to come up for hearing later in the day.

Congress hits back: ‘Where was she for 10 years?’

The protest drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders, who accused Kavitha of political opportunism. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy questioned her silence during the BRS’ 10-year rule.

“If she truly cared about BCs, she should have advised her father, former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, to increase reservations then,” he said.

Questions over symbolic gesture

Congress MLA Aadi Srinivas questioned Kavitha’s decision to take the blessings of her in-laws instead of former CM KCR or her brother KT Rama Rao (KTR) before launching the fast. “Was this a personal act or a political message?” he asked.

All eyes on the Court and the Government's next move

As Telangana Jagruthi awaits the High Court’s ruling and pressure mounts on the state government, Kavitha’s protest has triggered a new round of political debate on the long-pending issue of BC reservations.