Hyderabad: National BC Dal president Dundra Kumaraswamy on Friday addressed a press meet at the Secretariat Media Point and strongly opposed attempts to obstruct the enhanced reservations for Backward Classes.
“Stand by the oppressed and downtrodden — do not stand in the way,” he appealed, describing the State government’s decision to provide 42 per cent reservations as a “historic milestone” and “a new chapter in the history of social justice.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy cautioned that the forces working behind the conspiracies to derail the move would be taught a lesson through the power of the vote.
He recalled that even after 75 years of independence, BCs had not received population-proportionate reservations and continued to lag behind in education, employment, and socio-economic and political spheres. “It is only after decades of BC struggles that the Telangana government has taken this historic decision,” he observed.
Referring to the special G.O. issued by the government, he said it was a step towards ensuring justice for weaker sections. He reminded that in line with the Kamareddy BC Declaration, caste enumeration had been successfully conducted, and the Assembly had already passed Bills enhancing reservations in education, employment, and local bodies. “But these are being stalled deliberately at the Governor’s level,” he charged.
Mr. Kumaraswamy criticised the delay in giving assent to the 2018 amendment to Section 285(A) of the Panchayat Raj Act despite the Assembly’s unanimous approval, terming it a denial of BC rights. He pointed out that although the government issued G.O. No. 9 to safeguard BC reservations, vested interests had approached the courts to block it.
Citing constitutional provisions under Articles 243D(6) and 243T(6), he clarified that the State government had every authority to enhance reservations. He added that, in line with Supreme Court directives, the government had justified the increase scientifically on the basis of BC backwardness.
“Assembly has full authority to amend the law, and both Bills were passed unanimously,” he said, citing Tamil Nadu as an example where reservations exceed 50 per cent.