Rajya Sabha MP R. Krishnaiah announced the call for the bandh. He has been a strong voice for BC communities for several decades and accused the Telangana government of ignoring the issue of BC reservations. He said the protest aims to make the voices of BC communities heard.
R. Krishnaiah urged all caste associations and political parties to support the bandh. He stated that it would take place in the style of a “Million March,” a massive protest to highlight the community’s strength. He added that people would organize road blockades and peaceful protests across the state to draw national attention to their demands.
Due to this bandh, the Telangana education department is likely to announce the closure of schools and colleges across the state for safety reasons and to avoid inconvenience to students. This means that students can expect a holiday on Tuesday, October 14.
The issue started after the High Court stayed the BC reservation process related to local body elections. This move has triggered strong reactions from BC organizations, who say that their community has been denied rightful opportunities in political representation.
Political experts believe that this bandh could have a major impact on state politics, as several social and political groups are expected to join the protest.
With schools and colleges likely to remain shut, students will get a mid-week break but officials have urged the public to stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel during the bandh.