Hyderabad: Members of the Backward Class and Scheduled Caste communities staged a protest at the Kukatpally graveyard here on Monday, alleging that they were facing caste discrimination when they tried to perform the last rites of their loved ones.
The protesters alleged that there were several instances in the last one-and-a-half months. Some community leaders were allowing members of other communities to cremate their dead only after kicking up a fuss.
There were instances when the last rites were interrupted in the middle, the protesters alleged.
The graveyard is developed by the GHMC, which allows people belonging to all castes to bring their dead to perform last rites. It is overseen by a committee.
Following Monday’s protest, local legislator Madhavaram Krishna Rao intervened and calmed tempers. He said the last rites for the dead from all communities could be performed at the graveyard.
It was stated that people had to intervene five times to allow people from BC and ST communities to perform the last rites of the dead.
Asked about the protests, a GHMC official said that many of the cremation grounds were meant for use by members of all castes until and unless it is a private property.
No one is supposed to block the cremation process based on grounds of caste, the official said.
He said that some locals had mentioned that there were many graveyards which restrict entry to members of one caste.
Curbs trigger row
- Protesters claim that some community leaders were allowing members of other communities to cremate their dead only after kicking up a fuss.
- The graveyard is developed by the GHMC, which allows people belonging to all castes to bring their dead to perform last rites. It is overseen by a committee.
- Following Monday’s protest, local legislator Madhavaram Krishna Rao intervened and calmed the flare up tempers.
- The legislator and GHMC officials said the last rites for the dead from all communities could be performed at the graveyard.
