Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus services are being reduced in several areas; commuters are advised to check the timetable. A senior TGRTC official told the agencies that local bus services faced disruptions in the early hours at stations and depots.
Several political parties have called a state-wide bandh in Telangana on Saturday. The bandh, organized by the Backward Class Joint Action Committee (BC JAC), has received support from both the ruling Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
“I appeal to everyone – the general public and all communities – to participate in the BC bandh on October 18, being organized across the state against the BJP,” Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said in a statement. Vikramarka urged Union ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay and state BJP president R Ramachander Rao to spearhead efforts to arrange meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President to push for passage of the BC Bill. Earlier, BC JAC chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha member R Krishnaiah called on all political parties and civil society organizations to support the bandh.
Meanwhile, Telangana DGP B Shivadhar Reddy urged all groups to maintain peace during the bandh and warned of strict action against anyone causing disruption or engaging in unlawful activities.
Drove behind the Telangana bandh today
The bandh was organized against the Telangana High Court’s recent suspension of the Backward Classes (BCs) quota in local elections. On October 9, the Court issued an interim stay on the government’s order imposing 42 percent reservation for BCs in local polls.
After the HC’s stay, the state government appealed to the Supreme Court but got no relief. The court held that increasing the BC quota to 42%, combined with SC and ST reservations, would push Telangana’s total reservations to 67%, breaching the 50% limit.
Telangana Bandh today: What is closed, what is open
With most schools closed for Diwali, the bandh is unlikely to affect school schedules. Offices remain open because no official holiday has been declared. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus services are being reduced in several areas; commuters are advised to check the timetable. A senior TGRTC official told the agencies that local bus services faced disruptions in the early hours at stations and depots.
(With input from agencies)
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