Hyderabad: The BJP’s OBC Morcha has announced a Maha Dharna at Indira Park to protest what it termed the Congress government’s “deliberate failure” to implement 42 per cent reservations for backward classes (BCs) in the upcoming local body elections. Citing constitutional provisions under Article 243(D)(6) and the 73rd and 74th Amendments, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of choosing “politics over social justice.”Addressing the media, he called on caste associations, intellectuals and community leaders to join the protest in large numbers. Krishnaiah also charged the Congress with violating the Kamareddy Declaration and attempting to divert 10 per cent of the BC quota to Muslims, who comprise 12 per cent of the state’s population. He said this amounted to a religion-based reservation, disadvantaging artisan and peasant BC castes. Referring to earlier instances, Krishnaiah recalled that the Congress had previously granted 4 per cent reservations to Muslims from the BC quota and later secured a Supreme Court stay. He said the BC Welfare Association’s legal challenge to that policy is soon to be heard by the apex court. Quoting Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s views, Krishnaiah said the Constitution does not permit religion-based quotas. He claimed the Supreme Court would ultimately invalidate the 4 per cent Muslim quota taken from the BC share. The MP criticised the Congress for not convening an all-party meeting or taking steps to implement the 42 per cent quota. He said the protest would expose the government’s alleged betrayal of the BC community and its failure to act on its election promises. He reiterated the BJP’s commitment to social justice, highlighting that it was the first party in the state to pledge a BC Chief Minister if elected to power. He challenged Congress to do the same. Krishnaiah said the BJP-led Centre had significantly empowered BC communities through measures such as granting constitutional status to the National BC Commission, forming the Justice Rohini Commission for OBC categorisation and launching the PM Vishwakarma Yojana for artisan support. He accused the Revanth Reddy government of misleading voters and not using its constitutional authority to ensure full BC reservations in the local polls.
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