Blocking BC Reservations Is a Grave Injustice, Says Dundra Kumaraswamy
Hyderabad: “Any attempt to obstruct BC reservations is an act of malice,” asserted National BC Dal president Dundra Kumaraswamy.
Speaking at an all-party meeting of BC organisations held under the aegis of the National BC Dal and BC Welfare Association on Thursday, Mr. Kumaraswamy, along with leaders Jajula Srinivas Goud, Murali, Shekhar and Bagayya, strongly condemned the efforts to scuttle the government’s move to provide reservations for Backward Classes in local bodies.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said that decades of relentless struggle by BC communities had compelled the Telangana government to take the historic decision of providing 42 per cent reservations. “Is the fight for social justice and equality a crime?” he asked, citing Tamil Nadu where reservations exceed 50 per cent. If justice is possible there, he questioned why it should be denied in Telangana.
He warned that those conspiring to block the government order (G.O.) would soon face the people’s response through the “weapon of the vote.”
Despite 75 years of independence, BCs, though numerically the largest section, have been denied population-based reservations, he said. “Deprived of fair representation, BCs remain backward in economic, social, political, educational and employment spheres. Social justice and equal opportunities guaranteed by the Constitution have remained elusive,” he remarked.
He recalled that the Telangana Assembly had earlier passed two Bills — on education and employment reservations, and on reservations in local bodies — but both remain pending with the Centre. Similarly, the 2018 amendment to Section 285(A) of the Panchayat Raj Act, unanimously passed by the Assembly, is still awaiting the Governor’s assent. In this context, the government had decided to issue a special G.O. and proceed with local body elections, he noted.
However, even before the G.O. came into effect, petitions were filed in the High Court branding it unconstitutional. Describing this as unjust, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “To block BC reservations is nothing short of a deplorable act.”
He criticised “systematic conspiracies” to once again deprive BCs of opportunities after decades of marginalisation, warning that such moves undermine democracy. “Whoever is behind this, whichever party it may be, the people will not spare them,” he cautioned.
Accusing the Union government of long-standing neglect, he pointed to its refusal to conduct caste census, absence of a dedicated ministry for BCs, denial of 50 per cent reservations in legislatures, and non-implementation of quota in promotions. At the same time, he said, the Centre had shown urgency in granting 10 per cent EWS quota through a constitutional amendment overnight, but had never done so for BCs.
Recalling history, he said that when the Mandal Commission recommended 27 per cent reservations, L.K. Advani opposed it, and now even Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to remain against expanding BC reservations.
Mr. Kumaraswamy declared that inspired by Jyotirao Phule and B.R. Ambedkar, the movement for BC rights, dignity, and social justice would be carried forward relentlessly. “We will transform this into a mass movement,” he asserted.