HYDERABAD: Facing criticism for neglecting Dalits in the state, the TRS seems to have found an issue to work on to win back the community. The TRS, over the past few years, has been consolidating its hold among the Backward Communities by doling out various schemes targetting communities like fishermen, toddy tappers (Gouds), shepherds (Golla-Kuruma communities) and others. However, when it comes to SCs, the ruling party had been receiving brickbats by Opposition parties as well as the community.
Take for instance, the sacking of the lone SC minister in the state cabinet without citing any reason or the Nerella incident where Dalits were allegedly tortured for raising their voice against the sand mafia, or the manner in which the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) agitations were clamped down and the subsequent arrest of its leader Manda Krishna Madiga.
The three-acre land scheme to Dalits too did not bring much needed appreciation from the community as the government failed to meet its own target. With just an year to go for elections and its alleged ‘anti-Dalit’ stance, the TRS was looking for ways to get rid of the tag. It got an opportunity in the form of the massive protests in North India by Dalits against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.
With not much protests in the state, the government is in a comfortable position and the TRS boss quickly latched on to the opportunity by taking up the issue. By doing so, he not just tried to prove that he is pro-Dalit but also took on the BJP-led Centre at its weakest point.
According to sources in the TRS, the party chief made a quick move to take advantage of the situation and not just him, he also made firebrand leader T Harish Rao to take on the BJP as well as the Congress. Harish Rao minced no words in taking on the two parties and also listed out the pro-Dalit initiatives of the TRS government.
“One of the reasons for CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to talk about qualitative change in politics is the continuing atrocities on Dalits and tribals,’’ Harish Rao said. He added that BJP and Congress failed to render justice to Dalits.