Telangana Congress leaders rally at Jantar Mantar for 42% OBC reservation

New Delhi, August 6: Senior leaders of the ruling Congress in Telangana, including key ministers, gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to push the Centre for approval of the Telangana OBC Reservation Bill. The legislation, already passed by the Telangana Assembly, seeks to grant 42% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local body elections, education, and employment.

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Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy joined the protest, while Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is also expected to lend his support to the agitation.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged the Centre to expedite the approval process.

“The Telangana Government has passed the Bill. It has gone to the Governor and is now pending at Rashtrapati Bhavan. We appeal to the Centre and the President to approve it swiftly, so that 42% reservation can be implemented in the upcoming local body elections,” he said.

Telangana Minister G Vivekanand highlighted the bill’s importance in promoting social justice.

“This is our rightful demand. As Rahul Gandhi has emphasized, social justice is a fundamental need for the country. We included this in our manifesto and passed it in the Assembly. Now, we call upon the Central government to grant an exemption and ensure Presidential assent,” Vivekanand said.

Congress MLA Vijayashanti questioned the BJP’s position on the issue.

“We are demanding 42% reservation for Backward Classes. Now, we are waiting to see what the BJP's stance will be. Will they support this? If the Bill reaches Parliament, will they pass it or not?” she asked while addressing the gathering.

Earlier on Monday, Congress MP Mallu Ravi moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, seeking a discussion on the Telangana OBC reservation bill.

The proposed legislation aims to align reservation levels with the demographic composition and longstanding demands of backward communities in Telangana.

Meanwhile, in a parallel protest, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha began a 72-hour hunger strike at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad on Monday. She demanded urgent clearance of the bill, which promises 42% quota for BCs in government jobs, educational institutions, and local body elections.