Hyderabad: Telangana Congress president and MLC B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Sunday claimed that a leader from the Backward Classes (BCs) community would definitely become the chief minister of Telangana in future, stating that this confidence stemmed from the inspiration given by AICC leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge .
The TPCC president was speaking at a public meeting organised at Gollapalli X-Road in Shamshabad under the aegis of the TPCC OBC Cell, demanding a census of OBC castes as part of the national census-2027 and asserting that social justice is a constitutional right of the BC communities. The meeting also resolved to exert pressure on the central govt to include an OBC column in the national census-2027.
Rahul Gandhi’s motto, inspired by the Bharat Jodo Yatra, was ‘jitni aabadi, utni bhagedari’, and it has given the confidence to the Congress cadres, especially the BCs, to secure their rightful share on every front,” Mahesh Goud said. Mahesh Goud alleged that the BJP was betraying the BC community and said the BJP MPs and MLAs from Telangana lacked the courage to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah and speak the truth. “Rahul Gandhi has given BCs the courage to speak up for their rights. He also alleged that while SC and ST columns were retained in the central caste survey, the OBC column was removed.
Over 55% of sarpanches elected in local body polls were from the BC community and the Congress is the only party that allocated 58% of seats to BCs in municipal elections, he said. BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar said there is a need for a nationwide discussion on issues such as the 50% cap on reservations.
“The BC representation would be increased in the state cabinet, state legislative council and various corporations,” claimed Mahesh Goud. Calling upon BCs to unite by setting aside caste differences, Mahesh Goud said there was nothing to lose by fighting for their rights and stressed the need to fight for future generations. He also hoped that Rahul Gandhi would become Prime Minister and said the Congress would come to power at the Centre and conduct a nationwide caste survey. He called upon the central govt to treat Telangana’s demand as a wake-up call and said the time had come for Prime Minister Modi to step down. The Congress govt’s goal in Telangana is to ensure equal rights, equal opportunities, and adequate representation for all sections of society,” he said.
He highlighted that the Congress govt completed a caste survey in the state, and the Congress party has increased BC representation. “A comprehensive nationwide caste census must be conducted to obtain reliable data. Clear statistics regarding the population, as well as the social, economic, and educational status of every community are essential. A caste census would enable informed decisions regarding welfare schemes, reservations, and political representation. The Centre should exercise its constitutional powers to conduct a nationwide caste census,” demanded Ponnam Prabhakar. “Resolutions supporting the caste census should be passed in Gram Sabhas to exert pressure on the central govt. Telangana extends its full support to the struggle for a caste census being led by Rahul Gandhi. A caste census is the foundation of social justice.