Kamareddy, September 7: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President B Mahesh Kumar Goud announced that the Congress party will hold a massive public meeting in Kamareddy on September 15 to celebrate the implementation of 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies. He said the rally will also expose the BJP’s alleged attempts to block the BC Bill at the national level.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting held at Shubham Convention Hall, Goud said the rally coincides with his one-year anniversary as TPCC chief and marks the fulfilment of a key electoral promise. “This is not just a celebration. It is a message to the country that Congress delivers on its word. The BC Bill, passed by the Telangana Assembly, reflects our commitment to social justice,” he said.
He criticised the BJP for trying to derail the legislation and accused the party of resorting to religious propaganda in the absence of development work. “BJP leaders can’t win votes without invoking the names of Ram, Shiva, and Hanuman. They avoid talking about real issues like representation and welfare,” he said.
Government advisor and senior Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who has been appointed in-charge of the Kamareddy rally, said the meeting will be a landmark event in the fight for BC rights. “It was Chief Minister Revanth Reddy who breathed life into the BC movement. The BC Declaration and Reservation Bill were announced here in Kamareddy, and now we are implementing them in the same place,” he said.
He called upon not just BC communities but people from all walks of life to attend the rally. “This is a proud moment for Kamareddy. Let every citizen join us to make this rally a grand success,” Shabbir said. He added that both national and state-level Congress leadership would participate in the event, which will serve as a strong message to the BJP.
Shabbir Ali also asserted that Congress would contest the upcoming elections with the 42% BC reservation policy as a central promise. “We will set a national example. We will defeat the BJP’s model and prove that BC reservations can be implemented with sincerity,” he said.
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the Kamareddy rally will be historic in scale and spirit. “Despite financial constraints, the government passed the BC Bill. The opposition may conspire, but lakhs will gather in Kamareddy to support justice,” he said.
Minister D Seethakka said BJP and BRS leaders boycotted the caste census and are now politicising the BC Bill. “We have given BCs proper representation in government. This rally will further strengthen their voice,” she said.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar pointed out that while the bill was passed in the Assembly and sent to the Governor and then the President, the Centre is deliberately stalling its approval. “The BC Bill is about political justice. It must become law without delay,” he said.
Minister Konda Surekha said Congress had honoured its promise and even protested at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the Centre’s approval. Minister Vakati Srihari called on people to ensure that the Kamareddy rally sends a loud message to Delhi.
Congress leaders also criticised BRS MLC K. Kavitha, referring to her as the “Liquor Queen” and claiming that her role in the liquor scam brought shame to Nizamabad district. They said internal conflicts and corruption in the BRS had made the party irrelevant.
The party leadership urged each Congress worker to bring at least 100 participants to the rally to ensure it becomes a show of strength.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Sudarshan Reddy, Bhupathi Reddy, Madan Mohan Rao, Lakshmikant Rao, MP Suresh Shetkar, MLC Balmoori Venkat, TMREIS President Faheem Qureshi, Urdu Academy chairman Taher Bin Handan, Agro Industries chairman Kasula Balaraju, and other senior district leaders. (eom)