Kavitha Unveils Rail Roko Poster For 42% BC Quota

BRS MLC K Kavitha today unveiled a poster for the upcoming Rail Roko protest scheduled for July 17 demanding Parliament's approval for the BC Reservation Bill, organised by the Telangana Jagruthi.

Speaking to the media at her residence, Kavitha said that the Rail Roko would halt all trains travelling from Telangana to Delhi, in an effort to make the protest more impactful.

"We intend to apply pressure on the BJP to pass the Bill," she said.

She also said that she had written a letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge urging him to push the Union government to approve 42% reservations for the BCs in education, jobs and local bodies.

She criticised Kharge's recent visit to Telangana, arguing that it lacked substance without addressing the long-pending issue of BC reservations, and claimed that neither Kharge nor Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Vadra had ever raised BC rights in Parliament.

This follows a similar appeal she made to the newly-appointed BJP Telangana president N Ramchander Rao, asking him to prioritise the issue.

Kavitha said the protest for the BCs had garnered support from various political parties, including the BRS.

When asked about her own participation, she said, "As a BRS MLC, I will not join the demonstration without my party's approval." However, the Telangana Jagruthi (that she heads), in collaboration with the United Phule Front, would intensify protests in the coming days, she said.

The MLC also urged the immediate release of the caste census data gathered at the gram panchayat level by the State government, rather than relying on outdated figures for local body elections.

On the Banakacherla irrigation project, Kavitha alleged that it appeared to be driven by vested interests, citing that Congress MLA J Anirudh Reddy had earlier objected to the initiative.