'Rail Roko' protest in Telangana on July 17 to demand reservation for OBCs: K Kavitha

Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha on Tuesday announced that a 'Rail Roko' protest will be held in Telangana on July 17, demanding 42 per cent reservation for OBCs, bills for which were passed by the state assembly earlier this year.

At a press conference here, Kavitha cornered the Congress-led Telangana government over the pending clearance for a bill to provide 42 per cent reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.

The Telangana Legislative Assembly passed two bills on March 17 to increase BC reservation from 23 per cent to 42 per cent in educational institutions, employment and elections to rural and urban local bodies.


The bills -- the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in services under the State) Bill 2025 and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill 2025 -- require the Centre's approval as the proposed BC reservation would exceed the 50 per cent cap on quotas.

"We see that Rahul Gandhi talks about OBCs across the country. Rahul Gandhi promised during the (assembly) polls that the Congress would provide 42 per cent reservation (to OBCs) in the local body polls. The bill was passed in the state assembly, and is now pending with the President," said Kavitha, a Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader.

She also urged the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the bill is approved.

"The bill has gone to the President... I urge the prime minister, he is from the OBC community, please ensure this bill is sent back as soon as possible," she said.

Kavitha said the "Tamil Nadu model" can be emulated, and once passed, this law should be added to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Ninth Schedule of the Constitution includes a list of central and state laws that cannot be challenged in courts.

Kavitha said a permanent solution is either an act of Parliament, or an amendment to the Constitution.