Manda Krishna calls SC sub-quota flawed

Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said that the government would thoroughly consider the suggestions and objections raised by the Scheduled Caste community over the report on sub-categorisation of castes. He also reiterated his commitment to ensuring justice for the Madiga and Mala communities without any bias or expediency.

The Chief Minister's comments came after his meeting with Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) president Manda Krishna Madiga at his residence on Tuesday, during which Krishna pointed out several deficiencies in the judicial commission's report. He requested the classification of SC sub-castes into A, B, C and D categories rather than the three proposed Groups 1, 2, and 3, arguing that it would be unjust to certain castes.

Krishna also appreciated Revanth Reddy's determination to fulfill his promise of sub classification. He stated that although MRPS supported the sub-categorisation process initiated by the government, it believed the report contained flaws that should be rectified.

Krishna extended his support to the state government, acknowledging the Chief Minister as a "brother" for advancing the official process of the SC categorisation. He also briefed Revanth Reddy about the challenges the Madiga community faced in the sub-categorisation process.

Revanth Reddy responded by reaffirming the government's unwavering commitment to providing justice to the Madiga community, without political influence. He also outlined the discussions held during the special session of the Legislative Assembly on February 4, which approved the judicial commission's report.

The Chief Minister also detailed the steps taken by the Congress government over the past year to expedite the categorisation process. He stressed that the Cabinet had studied and approved the commission’s report.

Krishna recalled that Revanth Reddy had fought for the passage of a resolution in favour of SC sub-caste classification when he was an opposition MLA between 2014 and 2018, even getting suspended from the Telangana Assembly by the then BRS government. The Chief Minister encouraged the MRPS delegation to formally present their objections to both the Cabinet sub-committee and the judicial commission for further consideration.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Krishna elaborated on the deficiencies that he had brought to the Chief Minister's attention. Krishna explained that the Madiga community, which constitutes the majority of the SC population, was disadvantaged by the classification, especially as they were placed in Group 2 with only nine per cent reservations. He demanded that this reservation be increased to 11 per cent, as the Madiga community is among the most backward. He also raised concerns about the misplacement of certain sub-castes, such as Nethakani, Beda, and Budagajangam, which were categorised inappropriately and denied fair reservation.

Krishna also criticised the reservation allocation for Malas, who he claims are more advanced in various sectors, and urged the state government to correct these discrepancies before implementing the SC sub-categorisation for reservations in education and employment.