Telangana CM Revanth Reddy.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Hyderabad: Congress government in Telangana has decided to take its fight for 42 per cent reservations to Backward Classes to Delhi. Telangana Cabinet on Monday evening has approved a plan to protest the delay in approving the BC reservation bills, which are pending with the President of India.
On August 5, Congress MPs will move adjournment motions in both Houses of Parliament to highlight the issue.
On August 6, a 'Chalo Delhi' programme will be organised, where ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and other public representatives will participate in a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
On August 7, a delegation led by the Chief Minister, along with ministers, MPs, MLAs, and MLCs, will meet the President and submit a memorandum requesting approval for the bills.
The objective is to impress upon the President to approve the bills providing 42 per cent reservation for BCs in local body elections and education/employment opportunities, said transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
"Local body elections need to be conducted in the state. We need to provide 42 percent reservations for BCs in education and employment. After our government came to power, we conducted a family-wise survey," said Ponnam Prabhakar.
"We got the survey report examined through a sub-committee. Within a year, the Cabinet also approved it. After that, in March, we passed two bills in the Assembly with the cooperation of all parties to provide 42 percent reservations for BCs in local bodies, education, and employment sectors. We sent them to the Governor for approval on March 22. On March 30, the Governor sent them to the President for approval. At the same time, we prepared an ordinance to remove the 50 percent reservation limit in the Panchayati Raj Act and sent it to the Governor. Since the bills approved by the Assembly were sent to the President, we appealed to the Governor to approve this ordinance. We have information that he has also sent this to the President. We are waiting, expecting a positive decision will definitely come," Ponnam Prabhakar added.
He added that leaders of all political parties in the country and 100 MPs belonging to the party would meet the President, and that MLAs, MLCs, MPs, and all ministers are going to Delhi. He sought cooperation from BJP MPs for the early approval by the president.