BRS MLC Kavitha to Lead ‘Rail Roko’ on July 17 Over OBC Quota Delay
Hyderabad/New Delhi, July 8, 2025 – Telangana Jagruthi president and BRS MLC K Kavitha today announced a “Rail Roko” protest on July 17, demanding 42% reservation for OBCs. The demand follows the passage of two state assembly bills on March 17, increasing BC quotas from 23% to 42% in educational institutions, employment, and local body elections deccanherald.com+8theprint.in+8ap7am.com+8facebook.com+2ap7am.com+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2.
Kavitha urged the Centre and Prime Minister Modi to expedite the Presidential approval, emphasizing that the increase currently exceeds the 50% quota cap, hence requiring constitutional clearance ap7am.com+2theprint.in+2m.economictimes.com+2.
🚆 Disruption with a Purpose
The planned protest aims to block train services across Telangana, raising the profile of the OBC quota demand. It aims to pressure both the state and central governments to act before upcoming local body elections ap7am.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
🗣️ Kavitha’s Message to Major Parties
Kavitha took a swipe at major parties, particularly the Congress and BJP, accusing them of stalling the bill over political motives. She emphasized that Rahul Gandhi’s earlier promises on OBC quotas must be honored facebook.com+8m.economictimes.com+8ndtv.com+8.
📌 Legal Route: Ninth Schedule or Parliamentary Amendment
Kavitha suggested embedding the quota through a Parliamentary constitutional amendment or insertion into the Ninth Schedule, which protects laws from judicial scrutiny m.economictimes.com. She also cited the successful Tamil Nadu model as precedent.
🔄 Political Build-up Ahead of Local Polls
Telangana’s ruling Congress government, led by CM Revanth Reddy, has yet to put pressure on the Centre for approval. Meanwhile, both BRS and Congress are preparing for upcoming local body elections, making the quota issue a pivotal campaign issue
