Telangana whip slams BJP for U-turn on BC quota bill, demands inclusion in 9th Schedule

Hyderabad: Telangana government whip Aadi Srinivas accused the BJP of taking a U-turn on the BC reservation bill by supporting it in the state Assembly but obstructing it at the Centre. Addressing the media on Thursday, he demanded that the Centre explain its stand and stop blocking the bill’s inclusion in the Constitution’s 9th Schedule.

He alleged that the BJP was using the Muslim quota issue to derail the proposed 42% reservation for Backward Classes in Telangana. “The BJP has no sincerity toward BCs,” Srinivas said, adding that the party’s stance lacked both clarity and commitment.

Centre under fire for stalling Rohini Commission report and caste census

Srinivas questioned why the Union government was withholding the Justice Rohini Commission report on OBC sub-categorisation, which was submitted in 2017. He also criticized the Centre for opposing the caste census in the Supreme Court through an affidavit.

He asserted that Telangana had completed a caste-based census, not a religious enumeration, and said it should be seen as a national model. “Stop using Muslims as an excuse to block benefits for BCs,” he said.

Srinivas further claimed that the Centre had denied a presidential appointment sought by the Telangana government and had obstructed an ordinance amending the BC law brought earlier by former CM KCR. He urged the BJP to end its resistance and support the reservation bill’s constitutional protection.