Latest news with #MandalCommission
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP should shed ‘anti-BC' mindset: Minister Ponnam Prabhakar
Reiterating his charge that the BJP is infamous for its 'anti-BC' mindset since the Mandal Commission era, Minister for Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar has warned that BCs would not keep quiet if any attempts are made to obstruct the enhanced 42% quota for them in Telangana. Speaking to the media in Karimnagar on Saturday, Mr Prabhakar said the Congress party is the champion of social justice. The Telangana Assembly passed a Bill increasing reservation of BCs to 42%, he said, alleging that the BJP is conspiring to obstruct the move on one pretext or the other to jeopardise the interests of BCs. Asserting that the Congress party has the proven track record of championing the cause of BCs and other weaker sections, he alleged that the BJP earned notoriety for pursuing divisive politics and working against the interests of BCs since the era of the Mandal Commission. 'If the BJP is sincere for the empowerment of BCs, it should get the 42% quota Bill approved by the Centre and cooperate to ensure local body elections in the State before September 30, the timeframe set by the High Court to conduct the local body polls,' he added.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Maya attacks Congress, BJP on quota, caste issues
: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati has criticised both the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their stance on reservation and caste-based issues, accusing them of having a dual character when it comes to the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The former chief minister posted her observation on the X platform on Saturday morning. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati (File Photo) She emphasised that the BSP is the only party that truly represents the interests of SC, ST, and OBC communities, and has consistently worked for their welfare and empowerment. She urged the SC, ST, and OBC communities to be cautious of the Congress and BJP's tactics and not be swayed by their promises. Mayawati further stated that the Congress's track record on reservation and caste-based issues is disappointing, and the party's recent statements on these issues are nothing but 'crocodile tears'. She also said the party had failed to implement the Mandal Commission report and provide adequate representation to OBCs in government jobs and institutions. The BSP chief also hit out at the BJP for its alleged 'anti-reservation' mentality. She emphasised that both parties have consistently shown disregard for the Constitution and the rights of marginalised communities. She criticised both the BJP and Congress for their stance on caste-based census, accusing them of being opportunistic and attempting to position themselves as champions of OBCs despite their track record of oppression and exclusion.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ponnam flays BJP for comments on 42% BC quota, says party always favoured capitalists
Senior Congress leader and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has criticised Telangana BJP leaders, particularly Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, for 'commenting' against the government's decision to enhance the quota for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42% in proportion to their population. 'BJP was in the forefront in its efforts to dilute the benefits of BCs since the Mandal Commission days, as the party continues to harbour a 'feudalistic mindset'. The party always worked for the interests of capitalists and never served the interests of BC communities,' he told the media in New Delhi on Friday. He strongly condemned the remarks made by Mr. Kishan Reddy against the caste survey conducted by the Telangana government, in line with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call for 'jitni hissedari, utni bhagedari' (benefits in proportion with population). 'BJP announced that a leader from the weaker sections would be made the Chief Minister whenever the party comes to power in Telangana. This promise comes at a time when they did not even make a BC MLA as leader of the legislature party,' he said, adding that Union MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who is from the BC community, was removed from the post of Telangana BJP chief. 'N. Ramchander Rao, who fought against the Mandal Commission report, was recently made the State BJP president. And he is questioning the government's plan to give 42% quota to BCs. Everybody knows that BJP has won the elections in collusion with BRS,' he said, and recalled how Chief Minister A. Revanth reddy had requested Mr. Kishan Reddy to facilitate an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interests of the weaker sections but to no avail. Caste organisations and those who are working for the cause of BCs would not allow BJP leaders into the State if the party continued to oppose BCs. 'We have adopted a wait-and-watch approach to ensure that 42% quota for BCs is implemented in the State. BJP leaders should not create obstacles in the process,' he said, and advised the BC leaders in BJP not to toe the line of Mr. Kishan Reddy and Mr. Ramchander Rao. He reiterated that Congress was committed to social justice and taking steps in that direction. 'What did BJP do for BC communities, compared to the efforts put in by Congress?' he asked.
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Cong taunts BJP's BC leaders over ‘Upper Caste' state chief
Hyderabad: The Congress party on Tuesday challenged Backward Classes (BC) leaders within the BJP to respond to comments made by their newly appointed state president, N Ramchander Rao. Rao had reportedly questioned the Telangana state government's sincerity regarding a proposed 42 per cent reservation for BCs, citing an 'unscientific approach.' Speaking to media at Gandhi Bhavan, Congress official spokesperson B Lingam Yadav asserted that if BJP MPs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Aravind, and Eatala Rajender failed to counter the remarks from their new state president, it would convey a misleading message that the BJP is a party opposed to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and BCs. The Congress leader affirmed that the Revanth government's objective is to implement reservations mirroring the model in Tamil Nadu, which has successfully navigated the constraints of reservation caps. 'The BC leaders in BJP should respond,' Yadav pressed. 'Bandi Sanjay, Aravind, Etela Rajender should respond to Ramchandra's comments on BC reservations. If 42 per cent reservation is not given to BCs, BCs would be further marginalised.' He vowed, 'We will achieve 42 per cent reservation by building pressure on Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.' Yadav further contended that those opposing the reservation now are the same leaders who championed 'Kamandal politics' as a counter to the 'Mandal Commission' recommendations in the past.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Youth Congress should protect constitutional values, remain committed to ideology, says Karnataka CM
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the Youth Congress office-bearers here on Friday, and described them as soldiers committed to protect the constitutional values of socialism and secularism. He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Youth Congress functionaries and the 'Yuva Shakti Pratijne 2025' event. The Chief Minister said all those who did not compromise on Congress' ideology has succeeded politically and hence urged the Youth Congress members to remain wedded to the values of the Congress and stand with the party. 'Those who compromise, do not survive or grow politically,' he added. Mr. Siddaramaiah alleged that the Sangh Parivar was conspiring to obliterate secularism and socialism from the Constitution, and said that the BJP was opposed to the concepts of social justice since its inception. 'I am confident that the youth of the State and the country will stand firm and lead the fight to defeat this conspiracy of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar,' he said. Describing the BJP as a party whose ideology was not compatible with the Indian society, the Chief Minister said that it follows a view that divides the society, while the JD(S) was not only devoid of any ideology, but had presence in only small pockets. Mr. Siddaramaiah said that it was the Congress that implemented the Mandal Commission report, and it provided reservations in education and employment while the 'Manuvadis' opposed it. He further said that it was the Congress that provided women's reservation, and while Rajiv Gandhi brought a constitutional amendment to provide 35% reservation for women, Sonia Gandhi fought hard to raise this to 50%. Speaking about India's freedom struggle, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the Congress spearheaded the movement, while the right wing forces represented by RSS and others, joined hands with the British. ''Though RSS was formed in 1925, neither Hedgewar nor Guruji (Golwalkar) took part in the freedom movement. Youth Congress members must remember this aspect of history. The political outfit of the RSS was Jan Sangh, later renamed as the BJP. These people talk aggressively about patriotism, but stayed away from the freedom struggle. They never stood for the nation,' he added. The Chief Minsiter referred to the speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the concept of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. 'But the reality is that the BJP has never tried to take Indian society forward together. The party has 240 Members of Parliament but not a single one is from the minority communities. They never respect B.R. Ambedkar, nor honour the Constitution he gave us,' Mr. Siddaramaiah added. He said that Congress was the only party truly committed to the spirit and values of the Constitution, and urged the Youth Congress members to highlight the role of Savarkar in the defeat of Ambedkar in the 1952 elections.
