A statewide bandh called by Telangana Backwards Class Joint Action Committee (BC JAC) to protest against High Court’s stay order on the 42% quota to Backward Classes in local body polls was observed in Telangana on Saturday, with major political parties, including the Congress, BJP, and BRS, supporting the agitation.
Normal life came to a standstill as businesses, educational institutions, and public transport were shut down throughout the state. Barring emergency and essential services, all the sectors were shut down.
R Krishnaiah, Chairman of Backward Communities Joint Action Committee and BJP Rajya Sabha member, had earlier sought support from all political parties and civil society organisations for the bandh.
Leaders of various political parties and backward classes’ organisations held dharnas in front of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation bus depots, preventing vehicles from coming out.
Telangana Congress leaders, ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and party workers participated in protests, the party said.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, who joined the protests, said people peacefully and voluntarily observed the bandh.
Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakiti Srihari, Seethakka, Konda Surekha and party MP Anil Yadav participated in the bandh in Hyderabad, while Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao participated in Sattupalli.
Opposition BRS leaders and former ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav, V Srinivas Goud and Gangula Kamalakar, and party cadres took part in protests. They raised slogans demanding the implementation of 42 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes.
BJP Lok Sabha member Etala Rajender participated in the bandh at Jubilee Bus Station here.
Telangana Jagruthi founder, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who also held dharna told reporters that it was the government’s failure to convince the courts to rule in favour of reservations.
“Whether it is the Congress party or BJP, stop misleading BCs. Even if elections (local body) are not held immediately, nothing will happen. First ensure reservations for BCs," she said.
During the protests, a few organisation workers attacked and vandalised a petrol pump, and tore attacked shops in the vicinity.
A senior official of TGRTC said some disruption of services was witnessed during the early hours at bus stations and depots.
In Barkatpura, around 9.30 am, a group of leaders attacked a petrol pump, smashing glass panels and damaging display units. They also targeted a showroom in Nallakunta and a tiffin centre nearby, pelting stones and forcing the businesses to close for several hours.
The bandh was announced after the Supreme Court refused to stay High Court’s verdict on Telangana government’s proposed order to provide reservation to the backward classes in municipalities and panchayats.
