The implementation of the quote requires the president's assent and its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
Published Aug 06, 2025 | 1:51 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2025 | 1:51 PM
DMK MP addressing the dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday, 6 August.
Synopsis: Several opposition parties have come forward in support of Revanth Reddy’s battle for 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in education, employment, and local bodies.
Several opposition parties are lending their support to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy-led protest in New Delhi, demanding presidential assent for two Bills, seeking to raise the reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in his state to 42 percent.
Besides Reddy’s cabinet colleagues, Congress MPs, MLAs, and BC leaders, representatives of the opposition INDIA bloc, also attended the dharna at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, 6 August.
The Telangana Assembly had passed the Bills for providing BCs 42 percent reservation in education, employment, and local bodies. The Telangana governor forwarded the Bills to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent.
The implementation of the quote requires the president’s assent and its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
On Tuesday, 5 August, Congress MPs from Telangana moved adjournment motions in both Houses of Parliament, demanding a discussion.
Addressing the dharna on behalf of the DMK, MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said the fight was for the rights of the people.
“People say that there is a cap of 50 percent on reservations. How can someone say that there is a cap on justice? Today, we are making a big wrong right,” she said.
“Today, we are fighting for our rights. Nobody has the right to say we will not be given our rights. Tamil Nadu has been a forerunner in securing reservations for OBCs, and today, we have 69 percent reservation. This fight for reservation was started by Periyar and the Dravidian leaders,” Kanimozhi said.
She extended DMK’s support to Reddy in his fight to secure the reservations. She also fired a salvo at the Governors, saying that they were becoming tools of oppression for the BJP.
Telangana MLC Vijaya Shanthi said the BJP would take the votes of the people but would not pass the Bills. “BCs are asking for 42 percent reservations. Does the BJP have any shame, do the BCs have to beg for their rights? she asked.
“You will forever remain a villain to the BCs if you fail us now. They will never vote for you,” she warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
RJD MP Dharmendra Yadav expressed solidarity with the protest on behalf of the party and Akhilesh Yadav.
“I demand that the government fulfil Telangana’s demands. If they fail to do so, we will join you in your fight,” he affirmed.
“UP stands with Telangana and will continue to do so,” he declared.
Supporting the struggle, CPI (M) MP V Sivadasan condemned what he termed as ‘Governor Raj’.
“You have passed the Bills in your Assembly. However, for the last four months, the Bills have been in the Rastrapati Bhavan. They are keeping it there but not making a decision. Everywhere in India, Governors are doing the same thing, trying to impose their own Raj,” the MP from Kerala said, and demanded more autonomy for state assemblies.
