HYDERABAD: Senior Dalit Congress leaders and public representatives of Madiga community, including Minister Koneru Ranga Rao, MP Nandi Yellaiah and others, today came out in defence of activists of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti who attempted to set State Congress headquarters, Gandhi Bhavan, on fire on Saturday. Besides, they urged the State Government to provide ex gratia to the victims, including family of the deceased Surendra Madiga.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Ranga Rao, Yellaiah, AP representative in Delhi M Jagannadham, former minister M Mareppa and others (all belonging to Madiga community) asserted that such incidents (attack on Gandhi Bhavan) take place when a movement on an issue was on.
MRPS activists attacked the Congress office in a `fit of emotion’, they reasoned. “We urge the Government to extend support to the bereaved family of Surendra Madiga who succumbed to burn injuries yesterday.
Manda Krishna Madiga’s demand to seek SC categorisation is justifiable.
However, the issue is delayed due to technical reasons and due to difference of opinion (on SC classification issue). Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the Congress are committed to the implementation of categorisation,’’ they averred.
Replying to a query, the Dalit representatives evaded a response on question of why a complaint was not lodged with the police on Gandhi Bhavan incident.
They, however, said that it was for the Gandhi Bhavan office to act.
Asked about the Chief Minister’s assurance to the MRPS for introduction of a Bill in Parliament during the Winter session, the Congress MP said that the SC categorisation issue was not a State subject and the Chief Minister had strived for introduction of a Bill.
Nobody can stop the implementation of SC categorisation in future, he added.
Earlier in the day, the Dalit leaders met the Chief Minister and submitted a memorandum requesting him to take steps to get an early Central approval to the issue.
