Union Minister G Kishan Reddy criticized the Congress Party for misleading Backward Classes (BCs) with a proposed 42% reservation in local bodies, which includes a 10% quota for Muslims. Speaking in Delhi, Reddy highlighted that former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had previously introduced a 4% reservation for Muslims, which was later challenged in court.
The High Court overturned this reservation twice, although Congress managed to get a stay from the Supreme Court. Reddy believes this was unconstitutional and harmful to core BC groups.
Reddy accused Congress of inflating BC population statistics by including Muslims, claiming the true BC figure is 46%. He called the attempt to increase the Muslim quota to 10% within the BC framework unjust.
In the GHMC elections, Reddy noted that 34% BC reservations allegedly favored AIMIM candidates rather than genuine BCs. He argued that reservations should benefit those in traditional hereditary jobs and accused Congress of political manipulation.
He warned that Congress’s actions would reduce the 34% BC quota to 32% by merging the Muslim component. Reddy praised the BJP for promoting BC leadership, citing BC appointments to the Union Cabinet and the BC Commission’s constitutional status. He contrasted this with Congress’s failure to elevate BCs to high positions.
Reddy criticized Congress leaders for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s community. He clarified that Modi was listed as BC in 1994 under a Congress-led government in Gujarat. Reddy questioned why some communities were labeled as “converted” BCs, noting the inclusion of Vishwakarmas and the Lambada community in SC/ST lists.
Reddy remarked on Congress’s decline, noting electoral losses and zero seats in Delhi. He attributed recent personal attacks on Modi to frustration among Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy.
The BJP demands local body elections align with Telangana High Court orders, excluding Muslims from the proposed 42% BC reservations. Reddy urged Congress to clarify the beneficiaries of their model and challenged Revanth Reddy to resign as Chief Minister in favor of a BC candidate.
