The BRS demanded that the bills to provide these reservations be introduced in the special session of Parliament starting 18 September.
The meeting of the BRS Parliamentary Party. (X)
Seeking to set the agenda for the upcoming special session, the BRS Parliamentary Party, which met at Pragati Bhavan in Hyderabad, demanded the introduction of bills to provide 33 percent reservation in Parliament and state legislatures to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women.
The meeting, chaired by party supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday, 15 September, discussed the action plan for MPs to exert pressure on the Union government to introduce these two bills during the special session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on 18 September.
The meeting, seen also as a marshalling of forces in the run-up to the year-end state Assembly elections, emphasised the BRS’s commitment to the welfare of women and OBCs across the country, pledging to consistently advocate for the protection of their rights, said party sources.
During the meeting, the chief minister posted two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating the urgent need for reservations for OBCs and women.
Letter written by KCR to the PM.
In the letter advocating for reservations for OBCs, Chief Minister KCR drew the prime minister’s attention to the resolutions adopted by the BRS Parliamentary Party meeting.
He expressed dismay that the Union government had not taken any action on the matter so far.
KCR recalled that the Telangana legislature passed a unanimous resolution on 14 June, 2014, requesting the Union government to provide 33 percent reservations for OBCs in Parliament and the state legislatures.
He said that the framers of the Indian Constitution envisioned the need for suitable provisions to address historical injustices against socially and educationally marginalised sections of society.
While some of these objectives had been achieved through reservations for OBCs in public employment and educational institutions, proportional representation in Parliament and state legislatures remained essential in a democratic polity to reflect the hopes and aspirations of marginalised sections, the chief minister contented.
In his other letter to prime minister, advocating for 33 percent reservations for women in Parliament and state legislatures, he urged Modi to take the necessary legislative action during the upcoming special session of Parliament.
The chief minister stressed the importance of adequate representation for women in Parliament and state legislatures to represent the hopes and aspirations of marginalised sections.
Recognising this critical need, the Telangana state legislature unanimously passed a resolution on 14 June, 2014, requesting the Union government to provide 33 percent reservations for women in legislatures, he said in the letter.
He noted that the Indian Constitution envisioned appropriate provisions in favour of women to address historical prejudices and discrimination against them.
He further mentioned that the Telangana government has already implemented a 30 percent reservation for women in public employment and admissions in educational institutions.
It may be noted that BRS MLC K Kavitha, who is KCR’s daughter, has been championing the cause of 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
As recently as 5 September, Kavitha doubled down on her resolve to take the Women’s Reservation Bill, which is languishing in the Lok Sabha, to its logical conclusion by shooting off letters to the presidents of 47 political parties.
Earlier, in March, Kavitha went on a hunger strike in New Delhi demanding early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
She was joined by several leaders of Opposition parties including CPI(M) and the Aam Aadmi Party over the Bill. The hunger strike was held a a day ahead of the Enforcement Directorate grilling her over the Delhi liquor scam.
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