Hyderabad: Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) president Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Thursday called for Social justice and equitable distribution of resources, saying every section of society should have equal access to opportunities.
Addressing the Samajika Nyaya Telangana Sankalpa Sabha at Saroor Nagar Indoor Stadium, Kavitha said social justice was not against upper castes. Instead, she said it meant sharing resources fairly among all sections of society.
She urged members of upper-caste communities to reconsider their views. Moreover, she said democratic-minded people from upper castes had supported every major social transformation in India’s history.
Social justice requires equal opportunities
Referring to Gautama Buddha and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Kavitha urged society to work collectively for Social justice. Further, she said land reforms had reduced economic inequalities. However, caste discrimination and social injustice still persisted in Telangana.
Responding to criticism over her role, Kavitha said she did not choose the caste into which she was born. However, she said she had chosen to work for the empowerment of marginalised communities. She added that she would continue until they achieved equal opportunities.
She compared caste discrimination with racial discrimination. Meanwhile, she questioned why society tolerated inequality within the country. She said India could have progressed faster if Backward Classes had received reservations alongside Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes immediately after Independence.
Kavitha demanded that the government fill all backlog vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In addition, she criticised the Congress government for proposing only 42 per cent reservation despite claiming that Backward Classes accounted for 56 per cent of the State’s population.
She also criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, alleging that they had failed to secure approval for the reservation Bill pending with the President.
At the meeting, Kavitha proposed resolutions seeking 50 per cent reservation for Backward Classes. She also sought the Bharat Ratna for Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. Finally, she urged the State government to write to the Centre recommending the Padma Vibhushan for Prof. K. Jayashankar.