Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians | Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Somu Veerraju says the move would encourage religious conversions
The Hindu
BJP State president Somu Veerraju strongly deplored the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly for giving Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians, alleging that it would encourage religious conversions. Leading a protest against the resolution at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on March 27, Mr. Veerraju said it reflected the appeasement of Christians by the Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
BJP State president Somu Veerraju strongly deplored the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly for giving Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians, alleging that it would encourage religious conversions.
Leading a protest against the resolution at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on March 27, Mr. Veerraju said it reflected the appeasement of Christians by the Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The CM got valuable government lands allotted for the construction of churches and the BJP has evidence of it. Mr. Veerraju said no arrest has so far been made in the string of attacks on Hindu temples in the last few years.
Hatred towards ‘Hindu dharma’ was being spread in the State. The BJP would not tolerate the politics of appeasement of the minorities and the desecration of Hindu temples.
“When the matter (recognising Dalit Christians as SCs) is pending adjudication by the Supreme Court, how can the State government move a resolution in the Legislature”, Mr. Veerraju questioned.
In 2021, five women from Mayithara, four of them MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers, found a common ground in their desire to create a sustainable livelihood by growing vegetables. Rajamma M., Mary Varkey, Valsala L., Elisho S., and Praseeda Sumesh, aged between 70 and 39, pooled their savings, rented a piece of land and began their collective vegetable farming journey under the Deepam Krishi group.