Telangana braces for bandh as BC JAC calls for peaceful protests

Hyderabad

Telangana is gearing up for a bandh on October 18 (Saturday), making it a major showdown over increasing reservations for Backward Classes in local body polls.

The bandh primarily aims to seek support for 42% reservation in local bodies and intensify pressure on the State government and the central government and is likely to be effective with all political parties backing the call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising 136 Backward Classes associations.

The protest will be led by BC JAC Chairman and Rajya Sabha member R. Krishnaiah, who will participate in the bandh in Barkatpura.

Mr. Krishnaiah described the bandh as a non-political, justice-oriented movement; He appealed to citizens to cooperate peacefully and urged businesses to close. The bandh is likely to exclude essential services.

Unlike many protests limited to political issues, the BC bandh received support from the ruling Congress and also Opposition parties.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud gave full support to the bandh, reaffirming the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. He called on all party cadres to participate and called on Opposition parties to declare that they were obstructing BC rights.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, while blaming the BJP for BCs’ bandh call, claimed that the Congress was committed to its poll promise and the two bills passed by the Assembly were a reflection of this commitment.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has officially extended its support. BRS working president KT Rama Rao met BC leaders and accused the Congress of disingenuously delivering on its quota promise.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extended its support to BJP State president N. Ramchander Rao, who assured a delegation comprising R. Krishnaiah, VBG Naragoni and Jajula Srinivas Goud of the party’s full support.

Telangana Jagruthi president K. Kavitha openly supported the group and promised cooperation with Mr. Krishnaiah. Nearly 200 BC associations and caste groups also extended their support to the bandh call.

The bandh is expected to affect public services. Many schools and colleges have decided to remain closed throughout the day. TGSRTC has not announced any suspension of bus services so far and hopes it will take effect in the first hours.