Telangana BC Activist Dies After Self-Immolation Over 42% Quota Promise
A court setback on challenges to reduced BC reservations heightens political pressure on the Congress government.
Overview
- Sai Eshwar, 32, died around 1 pm at Gandhi Hospital after suffering severe burns from a self-immolation protest.
- He set himself on fire outside MLC Teenmaar Mallanna’s YouTube office near Uppal after alleging the 42% pledge had been broken.
- BC organisations converged at the hospital as police increased deployment, with wider Hyderabad protests leading to detentions of activists and leaders.
- BRS leaders blamed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Rahul Gandhi and sought Rs 50 lakh for the family, while some protest groups demanded Rs 1 crore.
- Officials cited pending litigation and the lack of a fresh caste survey for issuing far lower BC quotas, as the High Court dismissed a petition challenging reduced panchayat reservations.