Caste conundrum: Andhra to send delegation to Delhi

HYDERABAD - With two scheduled caste groups in Andhra Pradesh at loggerheads over sharing reservation benefits, the state government Sunday agreed to send an all-party delegation to Delhi.

The decision comes a day after Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) leader Manda Krishna Madiga began an indefinite fast, demanding categorisation of SCs.

Madigas, a major SC sub-caste, have long been demanding categorisation of SCs into A, B, C, D categories. They argue that Malas, another sub-caste, were cornering all the reservation benefits.

Chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy held a meeting with some of his cabinet colleagues to review the situation following Manda Krishna’s fast.

A statement from his office Sunday said his government was committed to categorisation and was ready to send the all-party delegation to New Delhi to pursue the matter.

Two ministers also appealed to Manda Krishna to call off his fast but he threatened to intensify the agitation from Monday if the government failed to give an assurance about tabling a bill in the parliament.

Leaders of various parties, including Ajit Singh of Rashtriya Lok Dal and Maoist sympathiser and balladeer Gaddar called on Manda Krishna to extend their support.

Meanwhile, Malas too have threatened to launch a counter agitation if the government accedes to Madiga’s demands.

Mala Mahanadu president and member of legislative council J. Prabhakar Rao said the delegation to be sent to Delhi would be treated as anti-Dalit. He met three ministers from Mala community and said he would not tolerate any attempt towards categorisation.