BJP, TRS Govts are anti-Dalits: Uttam

Warangal : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused BJP Government at the Centre and TRS Govt in Telangana of pursuing anti-Dalit policies.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, who was in Warangal on Wednesday as part of Congress Praja Chaitanya Yatra, addressed a press conference to condemn the rising atrocities and injustices against Dalits under BJP and TRS regimes in the last four year. He said that the recent judgment of Supreme Court on SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act has instilled fear among already victimised Dalits and Girijans. He alleged that the Central Government caused inordinate and deliberate delay in filing a review petition in the Supreme Court on the issue which led to large scale protests across the country. He said Dalits were forced to hold protests on streets to move the non-sensitive BJP Government.

In the last 70 years of independence, Uttam Kumar Reddy said it was only during Congress regimes that steps were taken for the safety and welfare of Dalit and Girijan communities. However, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao Governments have failed to protect the interest of SC and ST communities.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that KCR has been cheating Dalits from the first day in office. He reminded that the TRS secured votes on the promise of making a Dalit the first Chief Minister of Telangana. KCR had also promised to sign the first file to provide 12% reservation to Scheduled Tribes. Further, promises like three acres of land for poor Dalit families, double bed room houses and one job in each household remained unfulfilled.

The TPCC Chief said KCR has been humiliating Dalit community on every occasion. He said a Madiga MLA Dr. T. Rajaiah was removed from cabinet unceremoniously on some vague allegation of corruption. The present cabinet does not have any representation of Madiga or Mala communities. He said Dalits who objected to activities of sand mafia in Sircilla were subjected to third degree torture. The case of brutal murder of a Dalit youth Muralidhar in Manthani remained unsolved even after one year. No cases were booked when two Dalit youths Srinivas and Parushuram in Manaondur attempted suicide alleging denial of three acres of land despite payment of bribe to TRS leaders. The case was hushed up although one of the youth succumbed to burn injuries later and victim named culprits in his dying declaration. Tribal farmers of Khammam were implicated in false treachery cases for holding protest demanding remunerative prices for their chilli crops. Later, they were chained and handcuffed while being produced before a court. These incidents clearly show that TRS Government is anti-Dalit and anti-Girijan, he said.

Further, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS Government has diverted funds meant for the welfare of SCs and STs. He said that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) itself has pointed out diversion of over Rs. 10,000 crore of SC and ST funds by the TRS Government.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Dalits and Girijans fear that the continuance of KCR Government was a threat to their own existence in Telangana. He said that the list of sins committed by TRS regime against Dalits and Girijans is very long and KCR has no moral right to continue on the Chief Minister's post. Similarly, he said attacks on Dalits, especially in North India, have increased after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

The TPCC Chief demanded that the Central Government take steps to ensure that the SC, ST Act remains unchanged.