Government firm on promise to BCs: Minister Vakati Srihari

Minister Vakati Srihari reaffirmed that the Telangana government remains fully committed to providing increased reservations for Backward Classes (BCs). Speaking on the issue, he said the government will not back down under any circumstances on its decision to enhance BC reservations.

He stated that the government’s goal is to ensure 42% reservation for BCs, emphasizing that this is a key commitment made to the community. The minister alleged that certain political parties, particularly the BJP and BRS, are trying to obstruct the government’s efforts.

Vakati Srihari further said that if the notification for the new quota is delayed, the BC community will not tolerate it. He added that the government is fighting at every level - legally and politically - to uphold its promise and has been presenting strong arguments in both the High Court and Supreme Court.

The minister urged the BJP and BRS to support the move for BC reservations instead of opposing it. “If they fail to do so, history will remember them as those who betrayed the BCs,” he remarked.

In the legal backdrop, the Supreme Court’s Indra Sawhney judgment (1992) had earlier ruled that the total quantum of reservations in India should not ordinarily exceed 50%. State laws, such as the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, also specify limits on reservations for local bodies. The 2018 amendment (Section 285A) outlines these reservation ceilings.

Currently, the proposed 42% BC reservation is under a stay by the Telangana High Court. The government is awaiting the court’s decision, expected on October 12, which will determine whether the new quota plan can move forward.