Latest news with #TelanganaStateAssembly
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana CM requests Centre to take quick decision on BC quota hike
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has requested the Central Government to take a quick decision on the passage of the Bills for enhancing reservations for Backward Classes (BC) in education, employment and political fields to 42%. The Telangana State Assembly passed two Bills on March 17 this year enhancing the reservations for BCs to 42% in the three fields and these Bills are not prepared haphazardly. The government conducted scientific and in-depth exercise for almost a year besides spending ₹160 crore on caste census conducted for 50 days through 1.03 lakh trained enumerators. As many as 66.39% families in rural areas and 45.15 lakh in towns, a total of 1.12 crore families, are surveyed and the survey revealed that BCs constituted 56.33%. The government sought the Centre's cooperation in implementation of the enhanced reservations. 'I once again demand the Centre from the Golconda fort to take a quick decision on the pending bills,' he said. The Chief Minister made the appeal during his Independence Day speech after hoisting the national flag at the historic fort on Friday (August 15, 2025). In his more than one-hour address, Mr. Reddy outlined the various initiatives taken by the 'people's government' since it took over the reins in December 2023 including crop loan waiver, Indiramma houses, recruitment to vacant posts, stern action to prevent drugs and others. The government had decided to spend ₹22,500 crore on Indiramma housing scheme, 4.5 lakh houses would be constructed during the current year. The scheme had no political involvement and beneficiaries need not pay commissions. Poverty was the only criterion to be eligible for securing the houses and the government for the first time sanctioned 22,016 houses to tribes in the ITDA areas of the State. The Chief Minister suspected a conspiracy to make youth addicted to drugs in the last 10 years, but the government aborted it and strict measures were taken so that people would not even hear the word drugs. A new system was developed in the name of Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) which wad closely monitoring every corner of the State even as strong steps were initiated to curb drug trafficking and create fear among peddlers. Simultaneously, the government gave priority to provide employment to youth. Accordingly, the public service commission was reformed and more than 60,000 vacancies filled in just 20 months adopting a transparent mechanism in the conduct of the exams. Referring to the irrigation projects, the Chief Minister said the State government was completing pending projects with proper plans to provide irrigation water to the last ayacut of the State. He recalled how the previous government took up Kaleshwaram project which collapsed within few years and cautioned people about vested interests that were trying to divert attention from the previous failures. 'We will not compromise in achieving our judicious share of water from Godavari and Krishna rivers. We will strategically move in that direction,' he asserted adding the government was working on strategical plans for achieving permanent rights in the utilisation of water. Telangana's debts and arrears Elaborating on the welfare and development projects that go hand in hand in the people's government, Mr. Reddy, however, expressed concern that the previous government left the State with mounting debts and arrears of ₹8.21 lakh crore. Of these, ₹6.71 lakh crore were debts and ₹40,154 crore were dues relating to payment for employees and other schemes and ₹1.09 lakh crore dues were on account of the SC, ST sub-plan, Singareni, electricity and other departments. 'From the total debt, we have completed debt servicing of ₹2.20 lakh crore which included ₹1.32 lakh crore principal and ₹88,178 crore interest amount till date,' he said.
NDTV
06-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Analysis: More Political Optics In Revanth Reddy's Delhi Dharna?
The dharna at Jantar Mantar today is meant to create the political optics of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress party as champions of reservation for the backward classes, attempting to put the BJP-led central government on the defensive. On the face of it, the strategy is to pressurise the central government and President Droupadi Murmu to grant assent to two Bills passed by the Telangana State Assembly in March. These bills aim to increase reservations for Backward Classes to 42% in education and employment, and also in local bodies. A related ordinance to remove the 50% cap on reservations under the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act is also awaiting approval. Revanth Reddy and a delegation led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also plan to personally submit representations to the President. The dharna is part of a larger effort to deliver on a key poll promise made by the Congress party in Telangana, famous as the Kamareddy Declaration. The government has already conducted a caste survey, also called SEEEPC, Socio Economic Education Employment Political Caste survey, and based on its findings, approved the 42% quota. The protest is a way to demonstrate the government's commitment to social justice and the BC community. Revanth Reddy wants to showcase Telangana as a model to the rest of the country, pointing out that the state government got not just the survey done, but got it approved by the cabinet, and quickly moved the Bills in the assembly, got the governor's assent, and sent it to Delhi. The issue is time-sensitive. The Telangana High Court has directed the state to complete the process for local body elections by September 30. The Congress government is under pressure to get the quota policy approved and in place before these polls. The dharna serves to highlight the urgency of the situation. Politically, the dharna is a strategic move to blame the BJP-led central government for the delay in approving the Bills. Revanth Reddy has accused the Centre of deliberately stalling the process. This helps shift responsibility away from the state government and rally public support. The protest, with huge numbers of Congress leaders and cadre mobilised to travel to Delhi, showcases Revanth Reddy's leadership and commitment to the cause. That Revanth Reddy leads from the front and is not facing any political rebellion, at least on the face of it, in Telangana. It also positions the Congress party's nationwide stance on reservations and social justice as a party that travels the long road from promise to fulfilment The protest has drawn support from various groups, including the INDIA bloc parties and a major union of Telangana government employees. This helps build a broader coalition and puts more pressure on the central government. The BJP has called the protest a political drama and has raised concerns about 10% of the 42% quota being allocated to Muslims. By taking the issue to Delhi and garnering support, the Congress is attempting to counter these criticisms and frame the opposition as being against BC reservations. The BRS has criticised the Congress government for not tabling the entire caste survey report as a public document in the assembly. It says the Congress has taken half-hearted measures instead of taking robust legal action like Tamil Nadu did, to take reservations beyond the 50% cap, by also amending the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act. Telangana Jagruti leader K Kavitha says the Congress did not try to build a consensus to showcase the joint political strength of Telangana to the Centre. She has also said a separate 10% quota for Muslims would make it easier to get the reservation enhanced for backward classes.
