HYDERABAD: Alleging that the classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) by the State government was done in an unscientific manner, Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) founder Manda Krishna Madiga on Wednesday said that advanced castes were included in the list of most backward castes and that injustice was rendered to Madigas. He wanted the government to create two or four groups instead of three.
Speaking to reporters here, Manda Krishna alleged that there was a “conspiracy” behind the government’s classification.
It may be recalled that Manda Krishna shared a dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the elections, where Modi assured that SC classification would be done. Recently, he was conferred the Padma Shri award.
The MRPS founder stated that several castes like Dakkala, Pambala, and Manne were included in the list of backward castes. “They should be included in the advanced list,” he demanded, alleging that Mala caste leaders enrolled Pambala and other castes in the most backward group to get maximum reservations while Madigas were denied a fair share in the classification.
Madigas, who fought for the classification, got only 9% reservations when they should have got 11%, he stated.
‘Netagani should be in backward group’
The Manne caste of Gaddar, the late balladeer, which was in the backward group, should be in the advanced group, demanded Manda Krishna.
He lamented that the Netagani caste was included in the advanced group at the behest of a Congress leader. “The Netagani caste, numbering about 1.33 lakh, should be included in the backward group,” the MRPS founder demanded. He continued: “At the same time, Budaga Jangams, whose population is about 1.1 lakh, was included in the most backward group.”
Manda Krishna alleged that, while classifying SCs, the government did not consider the backwardness or population of those castes. He wondered why Congress leader G Vivek, who, during the Lok Sabha elections, had demanded a corporation for the Netagani caste, has now failed to press for 1% reservations for the social group.
Rajanarsimha failed to ensure justice
The MRPS founder alleged that Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha failed to prevail upon the government for a fair share of reservations for Madigas, while G Vivek succeeded in including other sub-castes with Malas, thus securing more reservations for these social groups. “Rajanarsimha failed to ensure justice,” he said.
He demanded that the minister be dropped from the Cabinet and that two other Madigas be given berths.
Manda Krishna alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was aware that injustice was done to Madigas in the classification. “Just before the Assembly session on Tuesday, Revanth Reddy conveyed the same to two key Madiga leaders,” Manda Krishna claimed.
He advised the government to rectify its “intentional mistakes” and render justice to the most backward castes.
Recalling that there were only two groups in Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu, the MRPS founder urged the government to make two groups or four groups instead of the present three groups. If the government wants to do justice to the Netagani caste, then a fourth group should be created and Netagani should be included in it. “Otherwise, the government should implement only two groups,” he demanded.