Hanumantha Rao criticises BJP OBC quota stance, alleges voter roll manipulation

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao criticised the BJP OBC quota stance on Saturday. He alleged that the BJP and RSS did not want to protect quotas for backward groups. He also accused them of opposing wider quota benefits.

Rao, who is also a Telangana Government Adviser, spoke to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan. Meanwhile, he accused the NDA government of undermining democratic norms. He alleged that it was misusing voter lists through the Election Commission. Rao claimed that valid names were being removed from the rolls. He alleged that this would help the ruling alliance seek a fourth term at the Centre.

Further, Rao accused the Union government of using Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a shield. The Election Commission of India listed Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner.

He also accused the Centre of weakening the Constitution framed under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. According to Rao, the government wanted to bring in a new constitutional framework.

BJP OBC quota stance draws census demand

Rao also raised the issue of OBC data in the Census. He demanded a separate OBC column. He said such a column would show the community’s population more clearly. However, the Union government had said Census 2027 would include caste enumeration in its second phase. It had also said it would notify caste questions before that phase began.

Still, Rao argued that the BJP OBC quota stance showed weak support for wider safeguards for backward groups. He also announced a statewide protest campaign. Rao said Shamshabad would host a large public meeting on Sunday.

Telangana OBC Commission Chairman Veerlapalli Shankar would lead the meeting. In addition, district Congress presidents and MLAs would take part.

Statewide campaign follows quota criticism

Rao said the Shamshabad meeting would start a wider campaign across Telangana. He also announced plans for a show of OBC strength in New Delhi. Finally, the Congress leader linked the campaign to the BJP OBC quota stance. He also tied it to his demand for clearer OBC data in the Census.