Telangana Jagruthi president and BRS leader K Kavitha on Tuesday announced a state-wide ‘Rail Roko’ protest on July 17, demanding swift Presidential assent for two state bills that propose 42% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club in Delhi, Kavitha strongly criticised the Congress-led Telangana government and the BJP-led Centre for stalling the implementation of the quota hike, which was passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly in March this year.
“We won’t allow a single train to move — not even from Deccan to Delhi. This is just a trailer. If the bills are not approved, we’ll launch an indefinite Rail Roko,” Kavitha warned. “The 2.5 crore BC population in Telangana will teach the BJP a lesson,” she added.
She appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to act in line with his OBC identity and “ensure justice for BCs by securing Presidential assent” and inclusion of the Telangana reservation laws in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, similar to Tamil Nadu’s model, where quotas exceed the 50% national cap.
The bills – The Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in Services under the State) Bill, 2025 and The Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025 — seek to raise backward classes’ reservation from the current 23% to 42%. However, they await central clearance since the enhanced quota breaches the 50% ceiling set by the Supreme Court.
Kavitha also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reminding him of his party’s electoral promise to ensure 42% OBC reservation. “The Congress promised this during elections. The Assembly has passed the bill. Why is it still pending with the President?” she questioned.
As tensions rise ahead of the protest, Kavitha reiterated that the agitation will intensify if the demands are not met.