Student organizations at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) actively participated in a state-wide protest on Saturday, amplifying calls for a substantial 42% reservation quota for Backward Classes (BCs) across critical sectors including education, employment, and local body elections.
G. Kiran Kumar, president of the All India OBC Students’ Association, specifically urged the Central government to endorse the Telangana Bills proposing this 42% BC reservation. He further emphasized the crucial need to incorporate these provisions into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, a measure that would protect them from potential legal challenges and ensure their enduring implementation.
These student bodies underscored that their demand is firmly rooted in compelling caste survey data and aligns perfectly with fundamental constitutional tenets of equality, fair representation, and social justice. They strongly criticized what they perceived as the government’s preferential treatment, noting that the 50% reservation cap was exceeded for economically weaker sections, yet a similar consideration was not extended to grant OBCs their rightful and proportional share. The demonstration garnered widespread support, with active involvement from numerous student groups including AIOBCSA, AISA, ASA, BSF, DSU, FRATERNITY, MSF, NSUI, PDSU, and TSF.