CM Revanth Reddy accuses Centre of playing ‘Muslim card’ in delaying BC quota bill

New Delhi: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accused the Central government of obstructing the Backward Class reservation in local bodies by falsely representing the quota demand on religious lines. He said that the Centre is falsely linking the 42 per cent BC quota proposal to Muslim reservation.

‘Centre playing Muslim card to delay the bill’

Chief minister Revanth Reddy, along with the Telangana Congress MPs Dr Mallu Ravi, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Ramasahayam Raghuramireddy, Porika Balaram Naik, Kunduru Raghuveer Reddy, Gaddam Vamshi Krishna, Dr Kadiyam Kavya, Suresh Shetkar and Anil Kumar Yadav accused the Central government of playing the Muslim card in delaying the bill.

In New Delhi, the chief minister said that two bills of the Telangana government, reservation of BCs in education and employment sectors and reservation in local bodies, are pending before the Central government.

‘Revoke Muslim reservation in Gujarat, UP, Maharashtra’

CM Revanth criticised the Opposition leaders for claiming that Telangana’s demand for implementing BC quota is on religious lines. He challenged the BJP leaders to revoke the Muslim reservation in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The CM cited the interview of Union home minister Amit Shah, who allegedly stated that Muslim reservations have been implemented in Gujarat and would continue to be so. CM Reddy questioned whether BJP leaders would suspend Amit Shah.

CM Reddy accused MPs Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay of misguiding people. CM Reddy said, “The two MPs from Telangana are misguiding and projecting the demand for BC quota as Muslim reservation.”

HC court order on local body elections

The CM stated that the High Court has mandated the conduct of local body elections within 90 days (by the end of September) and the finalisation of reservations within 30 days (by the end of July). The 42 per cent BC reservation bill received support from BJP, BRS, CPI and AIMIM, and two bills have been approved by the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

CM Revanth to meet Rahul Gandhi

CM Revanth said he will meet the leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and press for the two bills of Telangana to be approved.

‘Telangana’s caste census is a role model for the nation’

CM Revanth elaborated on Telangana’s SEEEPC process, which began on February 4, 2024, and was completed and approved by the Legislative Assembly by February 4. He declared that February 4 is now celebrated as Social Justice Day in Telangana.

The survey collected data on 3.55 crore people in Telangana. The results, presented to the Legislative Assembly, show the population breakdown as:

- 56.4% BCs

- 17.45% SCs

- 10.08% STs

- 10.09% upper castes

A new development in Telangana is that 3.09% of people declared they did not belong to any caste.

Telangana Cabinet to discuss review on survey

The chief minister stated that the survey details were submitted to an independent expert advisory committee, which discussed and presented a report to the State Government. This report will be discussed in the Cabinet and then introduced in the Legislative Assembly.

Responding to a question, CM Reddy clarified that individual details from the survey would not be disclosed, as it would violate the Personal Data Privacy Act.

CM Revanth asserted that the Telangana government has become a role model for the country in conducting a caste census. He noted that while the BJP government initially submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating it would not undertake a caste census, it later followed Telangana’s lead and issued a gazette notification for a caste census after Telangana commenced its own.

CM Revanth urged the Central Government to adopt Telangana’s roadmap for a nationwide caste census. He also highlighted that Rahul Gandhi, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, had promised a caste census if Congress came to power, and true to that promise, Telangana implemented it immediately after forming the government.

‘2029 Lok Sabha elections will be a litmus test for OBC reservations’

CM Revanth declared that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections will be a litmus test for OBC reservations.

He drew parallels with the farmers’ bills, which the BJP government initially resisted but was eventually forced to revoke.

Similarly, he said, the BJP has been compelled to follow Telangana’s path on the caste census. CM Reddy added that the 10 per cent reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) has already surpassed the 50 per cent reservation limit.

Demand for Telangana to get vice-president post

Regarding the resignation of vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, CM Revanth stated he was unaware of the reasons but found the resignation unfortunate. He demanded that the vice-president post be given to Telangana this time.

CM Reddy criticised the BJP, stating they had sent former vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, a Telugu individual, home instead of making him president.

He also pointed out that Dattatreya, a BC leader and Union minister from Secunderabad, was made a governor, and his position was given to Kishan Reddy. Furthermore, CM Reddy noted that Sanjay, another BC leader, was removed as BJP state president, with Kishan Reddy and then Ramchander Rao taking his place, alleging that the BJP has done injustice to BCs.

With Dattatreya’s term as governor now concluded, CM Revanth suggested that offering him the vice-president post would be a way to rectify the injustice done to BCs. However, he acknowledged that the final decision in the vice-presidential election rests with the Congress high command, and he would try to support Dattatreya if the opportunity arose.

Reviewing two-child norm for local body elections

Responding to another question, CM Revanth Reddy stated that the government is seriously considering abolishing the two-child norm for local body elections.