New Delhi [India], August 6 : Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday threw her weight behind Telangana's Congress government in their fight for 42% reservation for Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) in education, employment, and local governance.
The Telangana Assembly passed two bills in March to enhance OBC quotas, but they are still awaiting Presidential assent.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy led a massive protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding immediate approval for the Backward Classes Reservation Bills. Congress leaders, ministers, MPs, and MLAs joined the dharna, raising slogans and voicing their support for the OBC community.
The Wayanad MP said in a post on X that the ongoing protest by multiple state ministers, MPs and party leaders at Delhi's Jantar Mantar is not just a state-centric fight, but rather a "national call for justice, equity, and rightful representation for marginalised communities."
She emphasised that this fight is not just for Telangana but a national call for justice, equity, and rightful representation for marginalised communities.
"This is not just Telangana's fight -- it's a national call for justice, equity, and rightful representation for marginalised communities. Justice delayed is justice denied," the Congress leader posted on X.
Saying that despite the Telangana Assembly passing the bill, it remains "stuck" waiting for President's assent, she added, "The Congress govt in Telangana has passed a historic Bill ensuring 42% reservation for OBCs in education, employment, and local governance -- a bold step grounded in caste census data. But the Bill remains stuck, awaiting the President's assent. In protest, the CM, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and Congress leaders held a dharna in Delhi, demanding immediate approval."
The Telangana government conducted a comprehensive caste survey, which found that OBCs account for 56.36% of the state's population. Based on this data, the government aims to provide 42% reservation to OBCs in education, jobs, and political positions. However, the BJP-led Centre is allegedly stalling the bills, prompting the Congress to protest.
Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi's brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also urged President Droupadi Murmu to approve the bills.
"The Telangana Government and Congress sat on a dharna in Delhi today, demanding that the President assent to the law reserving 42% for backward classes in education, employment and local government. This law is a major advance towards the Constitution's vision of social justice, grounded in data from the caste census," the Congress leader posted on X.
The Congress leader is also expected to join the "dharna" by Telangana ministers at Jantar Mantar.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, currently leading the protest, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being "anti-OBC" and also alleged that the President is being pressured not to accept any appointment from the protesting Telangana leaders.
"Sadak se lekar sansad tak, ladiya jaari hai (From the street to the Parliament, the fight is going on). We are demanding a 42 per cent reservation in education and employment, and political reservations in local bodies. We want the President to clear the bills regarding these issues. We had sought an appointment with the President, but have not been given one," Chief Minister Reddy said.
Hitting out at both the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah, he added, "I think PM Modi and Amit Shah are pressuring the President not to give appointments to people from Telangana. Now, we all MLAs, MPs and people from rural areas have come to Delhi. We are pro-OBC, Rahul Gandhi is pro-OBC, but Narendra Modi is anti-OBC," he said.
Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha is currently on a 72-hour hunger strike since Monday at Dharna Chowk, demanding urgent clearance of the Bill.
The Telangana OBC Reservation Bill aims to increase the quota for OBCs in local body elections to 42 per cent, reflecting the demographic strength and longstanding demand of backwards communities in the state.