Hyderabad: Bihar MP Pappu Yadav on Wednesday joined the Congress-led dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, declaring support for Telangana’s demand for increased BC reservations and hailing South India’s leadership in social reform.
Speaking at the protest, Yadav said movements for justice have historically started in the South. “When the South rises, governments that ignore marginalised people collapse,” he said, praising Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the INDIA bloc’s push for BC rights.
He rejected claims that the BC quota fight was about caste rivalry. “This isn’t a struggle between upper and lower castes. This is a battle for equal representation,” he said. Quoting the legacies of Periyar, Ambedkar, and Phule, he called Rahul Gandhi the present-day standard-bearer for their vision.
Yadav said Rahul Gandhi’s campaign wasn’t about political ambition. “He’s not fighting for office. He’s fighting to ensure rightful space for BCs in governance. And he’s willing to give his life for it,” he said. “This share won’t be granted it must be seized.”
Leaders from across the INDIA alliance joined the event, amplifying pressure on the Centre to act on Telangana’s demand for BC quotas in education, jobs, and local bodies.