SC/STs to hold Simha Garjana on May 27

Hanamkonda: The Supreme Court’s judgement on March 20, proposing amendments in SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has made the warring factions of SC/ST communities in the State to come together.

In order to fight against the judgement and the Centre, which approached the court seeking amendment in the act, the leaders of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) and Mala Mahanadu, who were at odds over SC categorisation issue, have now joined hands.

Similarly, different groups of Scheduled Tribes have come together for the cause. Nearly 100 different associations of SC/STs in Telangana were now gearing up to organise a massive public meeting, called ‘Dalita Girijana Simha Garjana’ in Warangal on May 27.

This was informed by the MRPS founder president M Krishna Madiga along with Mala Mahanadu leader Addanki Dayakar and Lambada Hakkula Porata Samithi Bellaiah Naik here on Tuesday. They were planning to invite SC/ST leaders from across the country to attend the meeting.

The MRPS leader speaking to the press alleged that the recent actions of both the Central government and Supreme Court with regard to SC/ST PoA Act impaired the very purpose of the Act.

Amendment made in the Act offering certain safeguards to the accused under act would be detrimental to dalits and tribals.

The BJP government at the Centre and the court were trying to weaken the Act on the pretext of misuse of the Act. The entire problem was created by the Centre as it approached the court seeking to amend the Act saying it was being misused.

Krishna Madiga noted that after the courts’ judgement, the community members in the north have responded strongly against the order. But in the south, the response was somewhat weak.

It was because of poor leadership in the southern states. The purpose of Dalita Girijana Simha Garjana was to unite SC/ST leaders from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari to fight for the interests of the community members. Leaders from 29 states would be invited to the meeting, he informed.

Dayakar and Bellaiah Naik worried that the court’s order might affect the interests of nearly 50 crores dalits and tribal population in the country. The Centre should ensure that the court directions were not implemented as some states were trying strict implementation of court order, they added.

Prior to May 27 meeting, a district convention would be held in Warangal on April 26. The leaders and community members from across Telangana would be invited to attend the meeting to discuss arrangements for Dalita Girijana Simha Garjana’, they said.