BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha will stage a hunger strike on Tuesday demanding the installation of a statue of social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule within the Telangana Legislative Assembly premises. The protest will be held from 10 AM to 5 PM at Indira Park, Hyderabad, and is being organized jointly by Telangana Jagruthi and the United Phule Front (UPF).
Telangana Jagruthi leader Naveen Achari and UPF co-convener Bolla Shiva Shankar inspected the protest site on Monday and reviewed the arrangements.
Kavitha has been leading a sustained campaign for the installation of the Phule statue, citing his legacy as a key figure for the Backward Classes (BCs). In addition to previous protests and hunger strikes, she has also conducted roundtable meetings across several districts to raise awareness and gather public support. Representations were submitted twice to Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, but no action has been taken so far, prompting renewed agitation.
The protestors are demanding a formal announcement from the government by April 11, coinciding with Phule Jayanti. Speaking to reporters, Bolla Shiva Shankar emphasized that the government should not overlook the sentiments of BC communities and urged that the statue be installed to honor Phule’s contributions. He warned that any indifference to the demand would be met with intensified protests under Kavitha’s leadership.
He further stated that awareness campaigns and pressure tactics have been ongoing across districts, and reiterated that the community will not tolerate continued neglect. Thousands of supporters, including members of the BC community, are expected to join Kavitha’s hunger strike.