Revanth Reddy remark on PM Modi’s caste sets off storm in Telangana, BJP says ask Rahul first

In response, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP Member of Parliament Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed the chief minister was making such statements because “he cannot provide 42 percent reservation for BCs in the state as he had promised”.

“He should first ask the caste and background of (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi. Going by his background, it is not clear what his nationality, caste and religion are…His (Rahul Gandhi) grandfather was Feroz Jehangir Gandhi. In Hindu tradition, caste is inherited from the father’s lineage. Now, his mother came from another country. So, what is his locus standi?” he asked at a gathering in Hyderabad.

The chief minister, he claimed, was “attempting to take away the reservation of BCs to give to Muslims”.

“The BJP is very strong in its stand. There will be no reservation for Muslims on the basis of religion. Revanth Reddy can forget his diversion tactics,” he said.

The debate around Backward Classes has come days after Telangana tabled its caste survey in the Assembly. It also comes just ahead of local body polls in the state.

According to the survey, tabled by the Reddy government on February 4, 56.33 percent of the state’s population are BCs. The government has also promised to introduce a Bill supporting 42 percent reservation for BCs in education, employment and local bodies in the upcoming session of the Assembly. The Bill will, however, require support from the Centre given that the quota would mean breaching the Supreme Court’s reservation ceiling of 50 percent.