Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has reiterated his government’s commitment to conducting a caste census in the state, in line with the promise made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Addressing the Akhil Bharata Padmashali Mahasabha on Sunday, he criticized opposition parties for attempting to distort the findings, stating that those unwilling to ensure justice for Backward Classes (BCs) are deliberately misleading the public.
Revanth Reddy accused the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of opposing the caste census for political reasons. “If the Telangana Assembly passes a resolution on caste census, it will pose a significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he remarked. He alleged that there is a larger conspiracy to suppress the rights of marginalized communities.
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Highlighting discrepancies in caste demographics, the Chief Minister claimed that while former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) estimated the upper caste population at 21%, the recent survey conducted by his government found it to be 15.28%. He further alleged that there is an attempt to prevent BCs from securing their rightful 42% reservations, urging the community to resist such efforts.
Revanth Reddy praised the Padmashali community for its contributions to Telangana, citing the sacrifices of Konda Laxman Bapuji, who resigned from office for the cause of statehood. He criticized the previous government for failing to honor Bapuji after his passing. He also acknowledged Tiger Ale Narendra’s role in the Telangana movement and accused KCR of politically sidelining him despite Congress appointing him as a Union Minister.
Announcing key initiatives, Revanth Reddy stated that the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology has been named after Konda Laxman Bapuji. Additionally, he announced that the upcoming medical college in Asifabad would also be named in his honor.
Reaffirming his government’s support for the handloom sector, the Chief Minister revealed that orders for 1.3 crore sarees worth ₹600 crore have been allocated to weavers, ensuring economic support for the community. He also pledged ₹1 crore for the construction of Markandeya Bhavan in Solapur, Maharashtra, aimed at preserving the self-respect of the Padmashali community.