Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called for Rahul Gandhi to become prime minister, saying his leadership was necessary to secure justice for backward classes. He was speaking at an event marking the 174th birth anniversary of Panduga Sayanna Mudiraj, a figure associated with the struggle for backward-class rights.
"Rahul Gandhi should become prime minister if justice is to be done to the backward classes. After Rajiv Gandhi's death, Congress came to power many times; they could have become prime minister long ago had they wanted it," Reddy said. He also appealed to voters to set aside differences and make a positive choice when the next Lok Sabha elections are held.
Reddy said his government was committed to strengthening the political representation of all backward-class communities and announced that a cabinet sub-committee would be formed to examine the demand to include the Mudiraj community in the BC-A category. The community currently falls under BC-D in Telangana. He said the matter would be taken up at the next cabinet meeting, with officials and legal experts consulted before a decision.
He asked Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to engage with other backward communities, including Gangaputras. Referring to the caste survey conducted by his government, Reddy said its findings had enabled different communities to raise their concerns more effectively. He said his government was supplying fine-quality rice free of cost to 3.48 crore people through the Public Distribution System. He also announced plans to install statues of Doddi Komuraiah and Panduga Sayanna at Tank Bund on the banks of Hussain Sagar.