Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy Wednesday urged the Backward Classes to launch a ‘dharma yuddham’ against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for ‘denying’ them their rightful share in reservations. Declaring that it was a “now or never” moment for BCs, he warned if the Centre refuses to approve Telangana’s 42% BC quota, a nationwide movement would be launched to bring down the Modi govt.
Addressing ‘BCs Poru Garjana’ organised by various BC associations led by Jajula Srinivas Goud at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Revanth demanded that the Modi govt pass the necessary constitutional amendment to include the quota in the Ninth Schedule. The dharna received support from over a dozen political parties, including the Samajwadi Party, NCP, AIMIM, CPI, and Congress, along with several BC welfare association representatives.
Revanth reminded the gathering that even Scheduled Castes had waged a ‘dharma yuddham’ for their rights, and it was now time for BCs to do the same. “Our demand is justified. Do not underestimate BCs. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress stand with you. We will unite all political parties and BC associations across India to fight for this,” he declared.
The CM said: “We are not asking you to implement 42% BC quota in Gujarat or other BJP-ruled states. Telangana has already conducted a caste survey and has empirical data—something the courts have mandated for enhancing reservations. If Telangana wants to give 42% to BCs, why is Modi blocking it?”
“If the PM ensures that the BC reservation bill is passed in Parliament, I will personally organise an event at Secunderabad Parade Grounds, with 10 lakh people honouring him. If not, the same 10 lakh will gather to show BC strength in a ‘dharma yuddham’ meeting,” he said.
Warning Modi against dominating states in the name of central power, Revanth invoked history, saying, “The Nizams, the Razakars, and even the father-son duo (an indirect dig at KCR and KTR) all thought they were invincible. But people rejected them. Modi will face the same fate if he continues to betray BCs.”
He accused the BJP of deliberately stalling BC empowerment while aggressively pushing controversial bills despite lacking a clear majority in Parliament. “The Modi govt passed laws like triple talaq, Article 370 repeal, and CAA bill despite widespread opposition. Today, it tabled the Waqf (amendment) bill. When almost all parties support BC quota enhancement, what’s stopping Modi from passing it?” he questioned.
Revanth emphasised that the BJP’s refusal to conduct a caste census since 2019 was part of a larger conspiracy to deny BCs their due. “Rahul Gandhi has consistently demanded a caste census to ensure reservations are based on real data. But Modi fears this because it would expose the injustice done to BCs,” he alleged.
The CM also highlighted Telangana’s proactive stance. On March 17, the state assembly passed two crucial bills—one increasing BC reservations in local bodies to 42% and another raising BC, SC, and ST reservations in education and employment, taking total reservations to 67%. The new Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill-2025 aims to correct historical injustices. Until now, BCs had received only 18% to 23% reservation in local bodies, varying by municipality and panchayat population.
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Cong questions BRS absence
Hyderabad: TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and social welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar questioned the BRS’s absence at the BCs protest meet in Delhi. “The BRS supported these bills in the Telangana assembly. So why did they not stand with BCs in Delhi? They must explain their silence,” they demanded. Extending AIMIM’s support to the BCs’ demand, party chief Asaduddin Owaisi said even the poorest among BC-E Muslims would benefit from this reservation enhancement. “This is a justified demand, and we fully support it,” Owaisi said.