metro india news  I new delhi

Backward Class (BC) groups, under the auspices of the Backward Class Welfare Association National Committee, staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday, demanding that the Union government implement 42 per cent reservation by including it in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The BC groups have invited all parties, including the Congress, to join the dharna.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka,  TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Konda Surekha and Ponnam Prabhakar, Government Whip Adi Srinivas, Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao, and others participated in the protest. Moreover, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, MPs Kanimozhi, Supriya Sule, and other leaders also attended the protest to express their solidarity. The leaders insisted that the Bill passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly, which raises BC reservations to 42 percent, should also be approved and implemented in Parliament.

They also called for a caste census to be conducted in conjunction with the national population census and proposed the establishment of a sub-quota for BC women within the existing 33 percent women's reservation. During the event, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy remarked that in order to secure reservations in local bodies and legislative Assemblies, it is essential to understand the population census. 

He also highlighted that this issue of reservations had been communicated to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He noted that the courts have stated that reservations cannot be granted without a known population count. Consequently, the Congress party has made the decision to carry out a caste census alongside the population census.

Revanth Reddy emphasised that the Mandal Commission recommended allocating 27 percent reservation to the 52 percent of disadvantaged groups. However, he accused the BJP of conspiring against the Mandal Commission and initiating a Kamandal Yatra in opposition. He mentioned that a demonstration was organised in New Delhi to amplify the concerns of the backward classes (BCs). 

The Chief Minister remarked that if the Centre decides to raise reservations, Congress leaders will gather with 10 lakh supporters to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He indicated that it is ultimately the Prime Minister's decision regarding the potential increase in reservations nationwide. Revanth Reddy urged the Prime Minister to consider granting Telangana the opportunity to enhance its reservations.