OBC Quota Row: Congress Presses President to Clear Telangana’s 42% Reservation Bills Amid National Push for Social Justice

New Delhi: In a strong show of political resolve, the Congress party has escalated its demand for presidential assent to the pending Telangana reservation bills, which seek to provide 42% reservations to backward classes in education, employment, and local governance. This move has intensified the national debate on OBC rights, social justice, and the role of the Union government in facilitating equitable policy implementation.

On Wednesday, top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, staged a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, urging President Droupadi Murmu to clear the reservation bills passed by the Telangana State Assembly. The party is accusing the Centre of deliberately delaying approval under political pressure, with CM Reddy claiming that appointments with the President have been blocked.

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, reiterated the party’s commitment to ensuring rightful representation for marginalised communities. He emphasized that the demand for 42% reservation reflects the true spirit of the Constitution’s vision of social justice and is based on empirical caste census data.

“This is a collective battle for dignity and representation of India’s backward classes,” he wrote.

CM Revanth Reddy strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of being “anti-OBC” and attempting to sabotage Telangana’s efforts to empower its backward communities. He alleged that pressure was being exerted on the President to not meet with the protesting leaders.

“The fight is on — from the streets to the Parliament. We want the President to give immediate assent to the bills that ensure 42% quota in local body elections, education, and jobs,” Reddy said.

Joining the protest were several Telangana ministers and leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister G Vivekanand. Vikramarka highlighted that the bill was passed by the Assembly and sent to the Governor, awaiting the President’s approval. Vivekanand stressed that the move is crucial to furthering the goal of social justice, which the Congress claims as central to its governance philosophy.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, BRS leader and MLC K Kavitha has also launched a separate 72-hour hunger strike, demanding the same outcome — the clearing of the long-pending reservation bill. This cross-party momentum has only intensified the pressure on the Centre.

New Delhi: In a strong show of political resolve, the Congress party has escalated its demand for presidential assent to the pending Telangana reservation bills, which seek to provide 42% reservations to backward classes in education, employment, and local governance. This move has intensified the national debate on OBC rights, social justice, and the role of the Union government in facilitating equitable policy implementation.

On Wednesday, top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, staged a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, urging President Droupadi Murmu to clear the reservation bills passed by the Telangana State Assembly. The party is accusing the Centre of deliberately delaying approval under political pressure, with CM Reddy claiming that appointments with the President have been blocked.

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, reiterated the party’s commitment to ensuring rightful representation for marginalised communities. He emphasized that the demand for 42% reservation reflects the true spirit of the Constitution’s vision of social justice and is based on empirical caste census data.

“This is a collective battle for dignity and representation of India’s backward classes,” he wrote.

CM Revanth Reddy strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of being “anti-OBC” and attempting to sabotage Telangana’s efforts to empower its backward communities. He alleged that pressure was being exerted on the President to not meet with the protesting leaders.

“The fight is on — from the streets to the Parliament. We want the President to give immediate assent to the bills that ensure 42% quota in local body elections, education, and jobs,” Reddy said.

Joining the protest were several Telangana ministers and leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister G Vivekanand. Vikramarka highlighted that the bill was passed by the Assembly and sent to the Governor, awaiting the President’s approval. Vivekanand stressed that the move is crucial to furthering the goal of social justice, which the Congress claims as central to its governance philosophy.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, BRS leader and MLC K Kavitha has also launched a separate 72-hour hunger strike, demanding the same outcome — the clearing of the long-pending reservation bill. This cross-party momentum has only intensified the pressure on the Centre.