Hyderabad: Leaders from the United Phule Front (UPF) and Telangana Jagruti expressed anger on Monday over remarks made by Minister Ponnam Prabhakar towards MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha. Kavitha has been actively pushing for 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, jobs, and local governance.
Both UPF and Telangana Jagruti shared video messages protesting the minister’s comments. They emphasized that Kavitha has persistently campaigned for the Central Cabinet to approve BC reservations through democratic efforts over the last year and a half. According to them, public movements by Telangana Jagruti and UPF influenced the state government to propose bills in the Assembly and Council offering 42% reservation in education, jobs, and local bodies.
The groups questioned what actions Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and BC Minister Ponnam Prabhakar have taken to gain the President’s approval for these bills. They demanded transparency on why the party wasn’t taken to Delhi and why Prabhakar, as BC Minister, did not pressure the Chief Minister.
They also challenged the Chief Minister to explain why he didn’t discuss the legality of BC reservations during his recent meeting with the Prime Minister. Instead, he submitted a memorandum on various projects. Additionally, MLC Kavitha has called for a ‘Rail Roko’ protest on July 17, insisting that local elections occur only after BCs receive 42% reservation.
Jagruti and UPF leaders defended their consultation with R Krishnaiah, a veteran in BC movements, to support the rail blockade, stating it was appropriate. They accused the Chief Minister and ministers of ignoring Krishnaiah’s appeal for BCs to back Kavitha’s campaign, suggesting this is why allegations were made against her. Telangana Jagruti Youth Wing Convener Sampath Goud, leader Dugutla Naresh Prajapati, and UPF leaders Peddapuram Kumaraswamy, Surampudi Sujatha Goud, Salvachari, Ramakoti, Seema Ramesh Kuruma, and Rasamalla Balakrishna publicly addressed the situation.
