Hyderabad: Rajya Sabha member R. Krishnaiah demanded that the government conduct MPTC and ZPTC elections only after legally providing 42 percent BC reservation, warning of continued protests until the demand was met.
Hundreds of Backward Class community members held a rally in the city to press for 42 percent BC reservation in Parishad elections. The rally began at Liberty Square and proceeded to the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund.
National BC Welfare Association Executive President Ryaga Arun Kumar and State BC Welfare Association Working President Neela Venkatesh led the procession. Addressing the gathering at Tank Bund, R. Krishnaiah said the government must respect the sentiments behind the long-standing demand for enhanced reservation.
Leaders insist on 42 percent BC reservation before polls
R. Krishnaiah alleged that the Congress government had repeatedly promised over the past two years to hold elections only after increasing BC reservation. However, he claimed that gram panchayat and municipal elections were conducted without implementing the 42 percent BC reservation.
He said that despite what he termed injustice, BC leaders secured 61 percent of municipal chairmen posts, 58 percent of corporations, and 53 percent of municipalities. He welcomed statements by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and TPCC President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, who had said their party provided opportunities to BC leaders.
Referring to GO No. 9 issued by the government, he said the order was constitutional and legally sound. He expressed confidence that the case could succeed in court. R. Krishnaiah demanded that the state government wait for the court verdict before conducting MPTC and ZPTC elections.
BC leaders C. Rajender, Ananthaiah, Zillavalli Anji and Ramdev Modi also participated in the rally.