Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha in Hyderabad on Monday started a 72-hour hunger strike demanding immediate approval of 42 per cent reservation for backward classes (BCs) in government jobs, educational institutions and local body elections in Telangana. The strike is going on at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad.
Before her strike, BRS leader Kavitha accused both the Congress and the BJP of playing with the future of OBCs in Telangana. She said that the Telangana OBC Reservation Bill, which provides for 42 per cent reservation, is pending with the President for approval.
In addition, an ordinance is also pending at the Governor’s level. Kavitha has demanded that either the bill be approved immediately or the ordinance be passed. She accused the Congress of not fulfilling the promise of 42 per cent reservation for OBCs made during the elections. Also, she criticized the BJP’s condition that it will give reservation only if Muslims are not included in it. Kavitha stressed that the Congress has not yet clarified whether Muslims are included in the 42 percent reservation bill sent to the President.
According to Kavitha, the purpose of the hunger strike is to expose the lies of these national parties and ensure that we get some kind of clarity from both these national parties. The hunger strike will begin at 10 am on Monday and end on August 7 at 10 am. She informed that the government did not give them permission to protest, after which they had to approach the High Court. Kavitha expressed confidence that this satyagraha, which will be done in a completely Gandhian and peaceful manner, will have the High Court supporting them in raising the voice of OBCs. She also informed that there are about 112 OBC communities in Telangana.
