Hyderabad: Calling Telangana's caste survey a ‘model for the nation,' All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday declared that the Congress party's renewed battle for Social Justice 2.0 has officially begun — and it starts in Telangana.
In a politically charged remark, Kharge praised the Backward Classes reservation bill passed by the Telangana govt as a landmark move in advancing equity, empowerment, and representation for marginalised communities. He also mounted a sharp attack on the Centre, questioning its refusal to raise the reservation cap beyond 50%.
“We demanded a nationwide caste census and the removal of the arbitrary 50% cap on reservations. This govt has agreed to a survey under massive public pressure, but still refuses to lift the cap,” Kharge said. “The scientific manner in which Telangana conducted its survey must be a role model for the entire nation,” he added.
Kharge, who was closeted with chief minister A Revanth Reddy, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal in Delhi to discuss the far-reaching implications of the Telangana caste survey, said: “Based on this groundbreaking socio-economic survey, our govt in Telangana has recommended 42% reservations for OBCs. This significant bill is now awaiting the assent of the President of India.”
Sources said Kharge was given a detailed briefing on the methodology, findings, and the caste backwardness index, which forms the basis of the 42% BC reservation proposal in local bodies and educational institutions.
According to party sources, Kharge also had an in-depth conversation with TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, who belongs to the BC community, to understand community-level nuances. Congress leaders have directed Telangana party functionaries to brief all MPs about the caste survey data to build a national momentum.
Kharge highlighted glaring gaps in representation and opportunities for backward classes despite their demographic dominance. “Despite forming a vast majority of India’s population, these communities are glaringly absent from top corporate boards, the judiciary, bureaucracy, and premier institutions,” he said.
“For instance, even today, there is a parliamentary answer which says that 80% OBC professor posts and 83% ST faculty posts remain vacant in Central universities,” he added. Congress leaders believe Telangana’s initiative will help pressure the Centre to act on longstanding demands for proportional representation and reservation reform.
Meanwhile, CM Revanth took to social media to share that he met Priyanka Gandhi and briefed her on the BC reservation bill and the comprehensive caste survey carried out by the state.
Courtesy : TOI
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