Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday strongly urged the Union Government to approve two crucial Bills passed by the state legislature that seek to provide 42 per cent reservation for Backward Communities (BCs) in education and local body elections. Speaking after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of Praja Palana Dinostavam—a day commemorating Hyderabad’s historic merger with the Indian Union in 1948—the Chief Minister said the passage of these Bills would bring about transformative social justice and political empowerment for thousands of disadvantaged families.
According to Reddy, once the Bills receive Presidential assent, as many as 23,973 members of various Backward Communities will get political representation in local self-governance institutions. “We are mounting pressure on the Centre for the approval of the Bills. I demand that the BJP-led Union Government stop obstructing the process of achieving social justice started by the Telangana government. The Bills passed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly should be immediately approved,” he asserted.
The Congress leader reminded people that he had earlier staged a dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in August, demanding Presidential assent for the Bills. He also noted that Telangana has become the first state in the country to implement sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in line with a Supreme Court verdict, further strengthening its record of progressive social policies.
Turning his attention to water resources, Reddy emphasized that the Krishna and Godavari rivers are the lifeline of Telangana. He categorically stated that his government would not compromise on Telangana’s rightful share of water from both rivers. Highlighting future plans, he said the government has already started work on the second and third phases of projects to utilize Godavari waters, at an estimated cost of ₹7,360 crore. These projects, he said, are designed to ensure drinking water security for the next 100 years.
The Chief Minister also spoke of Telangana’s ambitious economic targets. The state government has set its sights on transforming Telangana into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035 and a three-trillion-dollar economy by 2047. “Once these goals are achieved, Hyderabad will serve as the gateway to the world,” he declared.
The government’s Telangana Rising – 2047 vision includes major infrastructure initiatives. Reddy announced that the second phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion is underway, with an investment of ₹24,000 crore. In addition to the existing 69 km of metro lines, another 76.4 km of network will be developed under this phase.
Other key projects include the development of greenfield highways, dry ports, expansion of Warangal and Adilabad airports, and the establishment of industrial corridors connecting Hyderabad to Nagpur, Bangalore, and Vijayawada. A “Gandhi Sarovar” project is also proposed at Bapu Ghat in Hyderabad. “These initiatives will radically change the face of Telangana over the next two decades,” Reddy said.
Marking the significance of Praja Palana Dinostavam, the Chief Minister recalled that on September 17, 1948, the people of Telangana “buried the autocratic regime of the Nizam” and embraced people’s governance. He added that December 7, 2023—the day the Congress government assumed power in Telangana—would also be remembered as a milestone in the state’s democratic journey.
In a veiled attack on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Reddy alleged that the previous government’s “dictatorial rule” had pushed Telangana into crisis and suppressed the aspirations of the people for a decade. He said that his government, in contrast, is prioritizing education, women’s empowerment, and social justice.
The Chief Minister accused the BRS of neglecting premier institutions like Osmania and Kakatiya universities during its rule. “Our government envisions developing these universities to global standards and enabling them to compete with the world’s top universities such as Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford,” he announced.
On education infrastructure, the Congress government has requested the Centre to exempt expenditure on constructing Young India schools from the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limit, ensuring greater investment in the state’s future generations.
Revanth Reddy also highlighted initiatives aimed at empowering women. He announced that the state government has already distributed ₹21,000 crore worth of interest-free loans to women entrepreneurs. Under the Indira Mahila Shakti scheme, 150 buses were provided to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), enabling them to generate income by renting out the buses to the state-run Road Transport Corporation (RTC).
Reiterating his call to the Centre, Reddy said the approval of the reservation Bills was essential for achieving genuine social justice in Telangana. “Our fight is not just about numbers—it is about dignity, opportunity, and ensuring that every community has its rightful place in society and governance,” he concluded, urging the Union Government to act without delay.
