Dalits, Girijans not safe in Telangana: Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that the attacks and atrocities on Dalits, tribals and other weaker sections are on the rise in the TRS rule.

Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with leaders of Opposition K Jana Reddy (Assembly) and Mohamed Ali Shabbir Ali (Legislative Council), ex-PCC Presidents V Hanumantha Rao and Ponnala Lakshmaiah and other leaders, on Monday visited Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad, to meet two Dalit youths who attempted suicide by setting themselves ablaze in Manakondur Assembly constituency of Karimnagar district.

The two Dalits took the extreme step over not getting three acres of agricultural land promised by the TRS Government. They have been admitted to Yashoda Hospital in critical condition with 50% burns.

Reacting to the incident, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the incident shows the rising discontent and disappointment among the people, especially Dalits and Girijans, against the TRS Government. Seeking immediate action, the TPCC chief wrote an open letter to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao giving a fact sheet which shows that Telangana has emerged as anti-Dalit and anti-Girijan State under the TRS regime.

Quoting information procured under RTI query, the TPCC chief said from June 2014 to December 2016, as many 1592 cases were registered under SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act across the State. He said 503 Dalits and Girijan women were raped while 120 other SCs and STs were murdered.

Uttam Kumar Reddy also alleged that more than 3,500 farmers committed suicide during the last three years and majority of them belonged to either SC or ST communities. Further, he said Dalits and Girijans also fallen victim to the brutality of police, which is acting like a frontal organisation of ruling TRS.