Andhra CM demands Centre to address Dalit issues

As promised, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy demanded the Centre to provide SC status to Dalit Christians who have been deprived of their rights.

Earlier this month, the CM had assured a Christian delegation that he would take up the issue of Dalit quota with the Central Government and the Union Ministers for Law and Justice.

According to sources, the chief minister on Friday called on Veerappa Moily and Mukul Wasnik, ministers of law and social justice, demanding that the new government address the issues of minorities.

The UPA government had earlier set the Usha Mehra Commission to study the issue of classification of Scheduled Castes for purposes of reservations. Despite the commission recommending a constitutional amendment, the government failed to table the concerns and completely ignored the appeals of Christian leaders.

With strong opposition again, it is unlikely that the new government would bring an early action into the case.