Modi to Set Up Panel to Categorise SC Quota

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a committee would be constituted to address the demand for categorisation of SC reservation and the Centre would assist in the legal process “in keeping with the BJP’s stand of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ and in this Gurram Jashua is our role model.”

Addressing a large gathering of activists seeking categorisation of reservations under the aegis of MRPS (Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi) at the Parade Ground in Hyderabad on Saturday, he said, “I salute my younger brother Manda Krishna Madiga, who has made it his life mission for this the cause of achieving categorisation of SC castes. I have not come here to seek something, but to seek remission for the wrongs by the successive governments post-Independence.”

Training his guns on the BRS, he said, “The BRS government, which was formed 10 years ago, promised to make a Dalit the CM, but failed to keep the promise. He (K. Chandrashekar Rao) further failed in giving three acres to Dalits and the Dalit Bandhu is only being given to those associated with the BRS and his cohorts.”

“The state government also promised to waive loans of farmers but it was not honoured. In the name of the irrigation scheme, only a scam has happened in the state. I clearly tell you to be equally wary of the Congress. By saying they want a new Constitution, the BRS is trying to cheat you,” he said.

Recounting what he called “injustice to the Dalits”, Modi said that a statue of Ambedkar was installed in the central hall of Parliament and Bharat Ratna was given to him by the BJP. “The history of the Congress is one of deceit. They troubled Babu Jagjivan Ram in various ways and politically isolated him. They tried to defeat Ramnath Kovind as president and then did not give him due respect. Congress also tried to stall Droupadi Murmu from becoming President.”

He also rapped Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is part of the I.N.D.I.A., saying he insulted Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi as he had no respect for Dalits. “BRS and Congress are birds of the same feather,” he said.

“Opposition parties, instead of cooperating in launching schemes beneficial to the people, are working to commit liquor scams now and making hundreds of crores. But put up a show of fight for public consumption. By launching schemes like PM Awas Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and Ujwala Yojana, we have given the maximum benefits to Dalits and backward classes,” he said, as the crowd chanted seeking an announcement on SC categorisation.

“I worked under Bangaru Laxman who was our party president and grew under him. The BJP understands the injustice done to Madigas. I will work with Manda Krishna Madiga, who is like my younger brother, for having steadfastly continued his endeavour in a peaceful way for 30 years,” Modi, getting emotional, said.

Union minister and BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy said, “Being a person from a humble background, Modi understands the injustice to Madigas. Categorisation is not to put one section of the people against another.”

Speaking after the PM’s address, Manda Krishna Madiga, founder president of MRPS, said, “PM Modi attending our meetings is itself a big achievement. We have conveyed our anguish to the PM. He has understood us. While Congress and BRS are paying lip service, Modi is actually delivering justice to us. Which PM has spoken at a meeting of Madigas and made a tribal president of the country? This is not possible for Congress or other parties.”

“When KCR was on hunger strike, I was part of those who got him to quit the fast. But not one of his 18 ministers is a Madiga. But Modi gave two ministerial berths to Madigas in his Cabinet and they are on the dais. This mirrors his commitment to social justice. Accepting our categorisation demand will be in tune with the ‘antyodaya’ principle of pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya,” he said.

The crowd enthusiastically stood and waved to the Prime Minister, when questioned if they would stand by him.