Know what will remain open and what will remain closed in Hyderabad and other places:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Backward class organizations in Telangana have called for a statewide strike on Saturday to demand 42 percent reservation for the backward class community in the state. The strike is supported by several political parties and organizations, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and left-wing parties.

Why has the bandh been called?

The strike was called to protest the Telangana High Court's stay on the state government's order granting 42 percent reservation to backward castes in local bodies. The state government later appealed the High Court's order to the Supreme Court, but suffered a setback there as well.

The proposed order specifically provides for a total reservation of up to 67 percent for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other castes. During the hearing, the Telangana government said all political parties supported the proposed order and passed a unanimous resolution in its favor, but the Supreme Court reminded it of the 50 percent reservation limit.

Know what will remain open and what will remain closed?

All schools, colleges, and government offices in the state will remain closed due to the shutdown. Public transportation is also expected to be affected. All essential services will remain operational.

Along with BJP, Congress has also supported the bandh.

The BJP has also supported the bandh, with party MP R. Krishnaiah saying the protest represents the collective voice of all backward classes in the state. "We will hold a massive protest for justice and call for a bandh to pressure the government to provide reservation in both employment and local bodies," he said. Significantly, the ruling Congress in Telangana has also supported the bandh and criticized the BJP. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has alleged that the Modi government at the center is not approving the Backward Classes Quota Enhancement Bill.