Hyderabad, January 28, 2025: Dr. J. Purnachandra Rao, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Andhra Pradesh Coordinator and retired DGP, emphasized the need for Backward Classes (BCs) to draw inspiration from the legacy of the late Karpoori Thakur, a leader of extraordinary vision, and strive to claim political power and representation. He made these remarks during his speech as the Chief Guest at an event organized by BC Times and the BC Samaj to commemorate the birth anniversary of the iconic leader and the launch of a book in his honor, at the Press Club in the city, on Tuesday.
Dr. Rao highlighted that an inspiring personality such as Karpoori Thakur, who overcame immense social challenges to rise to political leadership, are rare and serve as a beacon of hope and resilience for the BC community. He remarked, “For a person born in a marginalized community to become the Chief Minister was a monumental achievement. In today’s environment, where BCs are suppressed and denied access to power, Karpoori Thakur's life should serve as a guide. The BC community must be vigilant against the ongoing conspiracies aimed at denying them political power, often by providing only symbolic awards to BCs while keeping real authority in the hands of a few privileged castes.”
Dr. Rao stressed the importance of BCs uniting and claiming their rightful place in political leadership. He urged the BC community to adopt the example of leaders like Karpoori Thakur, who fought tirelessly for social justice and equality, and to reject the status quo where power is retained by a few upper-caste groups. “The time has come for BCs to unite and assert our collective strength. We must say loud and clear, ‘We are BCs, and we stand together.’ This is a warning to the upper-caste rulers: share power with the marginalized, or else face the consequences of their revolt,” he stated.
He also criticized the current situation in which the upper castes were manipulating the reservation system to their advantage. Dr. Rao pointed out the stark contrast between the ease with which the government grants 10% reservation to the upper castes while imposing stringent conditions for providing reservations to the 50% BC population. "If BCs are to receive their rightful share in reservations, we must challenge and change these policies. To protect the Constitution and prevent its erosion by forces opposed to social justice, BCs must increase their representation in legislative assemblies," he urged.
Drawing a historical parallel, Dr. Rao pointed out that even during British rule, it was the upper castes who had control in villages. “Even after decades of independence, the situation remains the same in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where caste-based political dynasties from Reddys, Kammars, and Velamas, continue to dominate,” he said. He added that Karpoori Thakur had detected these issues early on and had worked for social justice and equality, but he too was sidelined by the insecure upper-caste political elite.
Dr. Rao also strongly criticized both the central and AP governments for their reluctance to conduct caste census. “We don’t need titles and awards; we need a proper and comprehensive caste enumeration. Congress, which talks about caste census in the center, remains silent on this issue in Andhra Pradesh. This double standard is fueling growing awareness and unity within the BC community, and in the coming days, this will escalate and challenge the existing government systems,” he warned.
The event also featured speeches by prominent personalities such as Mr. Sangem Surya Rao of BC Times, Mr. Palle Sathyam Vamsaraj, President of the JMBC & BMT Welfare Association, and Mr. Annavarapu Brahmayya, among others.
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