BC reservation row intensifies in Telangana as BJP, Congress trade accusations

Hyderabad: The ongoing political tussle over BC reservations in Telangana escalated further on Wednesday, with Union Minister Kishan Reddy and State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar trading sharp barbs over the delay in approving the reservation bills.

Speaking in Delhi, Kishan Reddy declared that he would take full responsibility for implementing 42% BC reservations in Telangana if the 10% quota for Muslims is withdrawn. He also said he would personally take up the matter with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress hits back, says Muslim quota is a long-standing provision

In a strong rebuttal, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar accused BJP leaders of hypocrisy. He pointed out that the BC reservation bills passed by the Telangana Assembly are still pending with the President and questioned why BJP leaders who once supported the bills in the state were now silent in Delhi.

“The Muslim reservation is not new it predates Independence,” said Prabhakar, rejecting allegations of religious favoritism. He accused the BJP of using Muslim quota as a pretext to block legitimate BC rights and challenged Kishan Reddy to clarify whether reservation matters fall under central jurisdiction.

“There is no need for us to beg before the Centre. Every reservation we have proposed is for BCs,” he said, warning the BJP not to derail the process by invoking communal arguments.