Congress hails caste census decision, demands legal overhaul for OBC rights: Katti Venkata Swamy
HYDERABAD: Congress OBC National Coordinator Katti Venkata Swamy welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste-based census as part of the upcoming population survey, calling it a step in the right direction for social justice and transparency. Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, he criticised the BJP’s shifting stance on caste enumeration and reiterated the Congress party’s consistent advocacy for marginalised communities.
Venkata Swamy recalled that BJP leaders had earlier raised alarm over caste census, warning of potential “civil unrest”. He also pointed out that the party had taken a contrary stand in the Supreme Court, claiming caste enumeration was not feasible. He alleged that the BJP’s hesitation stemmed from political insecurity rather than administrative complexity.
Highlighting Congress’s commitment to public welfare, he praised Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling him a true people’s leader rather than a “prince”, and credited his leadership for bringing caste justice to the national forefront. “Rahul Gandhi’s 4,000-km walk was not a spectacle but a declaration of solidarity with the oppressed,” he said, adding that the current Congress government in Telangana, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is faithfully implementing his vision.
Venkata Swamy demanded that the Centre ensure full transparency in executing the caste census and urged Parliament to amend the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule to lift the 50% cap on reservations. He called for proportional reservations based on actual population figures in both public and private sectors, specifically for SC, ST, and OBC communities.
He further stressed the need for constitutional provisions ensuring OBC reservation in legislative bodies and demanded that a bill to this effect be introduced and passed in Parliament. On the subject of women’s reservation, he said it must be implemented by the 2029 elections and should include sub-quotas for SC, ST, and OBC women based on demographic representation.
Venkata Swamy also called for the implementation of reservations within the judiciary, stating that access to justice must reflect the country’s social diversity.