Political untouchability must end: Ex-IPS officer

Metro India News | TIRUPATI

Calling for the eradication of what he termed “political untouchability” in the State, Dr. J. Purnachandra Rao, IPS (Retd.), National Coordinator of AIBSP, demanded that all communities be ensured an equal share in political power. He was speaking as the Chief Guest at a meeting organized under the aegis of the Ambedkar–Phule Trust at Kachapi Auditorium in Tirupati, hosted by former Minister Parasavenkata Ratnam.

Dr. Rao alleged that nearly 200 communities in the State were facing political marginalisation. Communities such as Relli, Yerukula, Yanadi, Chenchu, Nakkala, Dudekula, Vaddera, Vadrangi, Kammari, Kummari, Kamsali, Chakali and Mangali, including several nomadic groups, had been politically excluded, he said. While some representation existed in the Assembly, he contended that sections such as Adivasis, Mala, Madiga, Yadava, Gouda and Padmashali communities continued to be kept away from real power.

Presenting statistical details, he said that in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly, there were about 35 MLAs from the Kamma community and 32 from the Reddy community, while Scheduled Castes had around 29 members, Scheduled Tribes 7, Muslims only 7, and Backward Classes about 40 MLAs. Despite comprising hundreds of communities, BCs had limited representation, which, he argued, effectively kept them away from power.

Criticizing successive governments, Dr. Rao said that BCs had not been provided reservations in legislatures, minorities lacked adequate representation, and tribal areas had not been given fair political opportunities. He further alleged that the denial of Scheduled Caste status to Mala and Madiga Christians was a consequence of the dominance of two major castes.