Dalit group seeks action against Andhra home minister
December 24th, 2011 - 7:58 pm ICT by IANSHyderabad, Dec 24 (IANS) The war between two cabinet ministers in Andhra Pradesh has taken caste overtones with a Dalit group demanding action against Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy for the attack on her cabinet colleague Shankar Rao, the textiles minister.
Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), a Dalit group, Saturday decided to organise a public meeting titled “Self-respect” Dec 27 at NTR Nagar, where Shankar Rao was attacked allegedly by the followers of the home minister Dec 20.
MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga told reporters that a rally would be taken out from Shankar Rao’s residence in Ramnagar to NTR Nagar, where it would culminate in a public meeting.
He also announced that road blockades would be organised across the state on Dec 26 to condemn the attack and to demand action against the home minister. He said even five days after the attack, police had not booked a case due to pressure from Sabita Indra Reddy.
The MRPS leader said the home minister’s son was a land grabber and she was trying to protect him. He said the the home minister should resign owning moral responsibility for the attack on a Dalit minister.
“If she refuses to resign, the chief minister should remove her from the cabinet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shankar Rao also reiterated his demand that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy sack the home minister. He said it was not proper on the part of the chief minister to support someone who is bringing bad name to the government and to the Congress party.
The textiles minister said no action was being taken against the conspirators behind the attack and claimed to have evidence against them. He also remarked that from the police chief to the assistant commissioner of police all the key posts are held by people from a particular caste.
Shankar Rao’s car was damaged when he was attacked with stones, eggs and tomatoes.
The incident took place when Shankar Rao was visiting a piece of land, which is said to be bone of contention between the home minister’s son and another person.
- Andhra minister complains to President against colleague - Jan 03, 2012
- Andhra textiles minister attacked, blames home minister - Dec 20, 2011
- Caste conundrum: Andhra to send delegation to Delhi - Dec 05, 2010
- Court to hear Andhra minister's graft charges against colleagues - Sep 27, 2011
- Gadkari flags off Telangana yatra - Jan 19, 2012
- Andhra minister complains against two 'tainted' colleagues - Sep 29, 2011
- Praja Rajyam Party legislators protest baton charge on social activists in Hyderabad - Dec 06, 2010
- Congress leader seeks CBI probe against Andhra chief minister - Mar 22, 2012
- Andhra minister booked for assaulting Dalit youth - Oct 16, 2011
- Telangana Congress MPs to surrender guards - Oct 19, 2011
- Ex-minister fires another salvo against Andhra CM - May 11, 2012
- Clashes over desecration of Ambedkar statues - Jan 23, 2012
- No police in Osmania varsity: Andhra minister - Jan 09, 2011
- Process begins for withdrawing Telangana agitation cases - Oct 02, 2010
- Congress MP, hundreds attend Kishenji cremation - Nov 27, 2011
Tags: assistant commissioner, attack police, cabinet ministers, caste, chief minister, commissioner of police, congress party, conspirators, dec 24, grabber, home minister, kiran kumar, krishna, moral responsibility, overtones, police chief, ramnagar, road blockades, self respect, shankar