Public Transport Paralysed in Telangana 'BC Bandh'

City commuters faced severe hardship on Saturday as public transport services came to a standstill across Telangana, with the state observing a bandh to protest the High Court’s stay on 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections. 

Passengers were left stranded at bus stops since early morning, while private cabs allegedly charged double fares. Reports also emerged of vandalism and forced shutdowns in several parts of Hyderabad.

The statewide bandh, called by the Telangana Backward



Class Joint Action Committee (BC JAC), received support from all major political parties, including the ruling Congress, BJP, and BRS. 

The Telangana High Court on October 9 had issued an interim stay on the state government’s order providing 42 per cent BC reservation in local body polls. 

Leaders and activists of various parties staged dharnas at Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) depots, preventing buses from plying. BJP MP Etala Rajender joined the protest at Jubilee Bus Station in Hyderabad.