HYDERABAD: Telangana social welfare minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar on Wednesday said the demand for Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians was a constitutional issue linked to equality and social justice.
Addressing a consultation meeting in Hyderabad, attended by minority welfare minister Mohammed Azharuddin, he said conversion changes religion but does not remove caste-based discrimination or socio-economic disadvantages.
“If discrimination remains unchanged, why should rights change?” he asked, stating that the issue should be viewed from the perspective of social justice rather than religion alone.
He said Dalit Christians continued to face exclusion in villages, workplaces, educational institutions and marriage alliances even after conversion.
The minister criticised the Union government for delays in taking a decision. “Postponing justice is, in effect, denying justice,” he said, calling for constitutional measures to extend SC status based on prevailing social conditions.
He said the state government, under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, was committed to supporting marginalised communities. Inputs from the consultation would be compiled into a report and submitted to the Chief Minister.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, he said the focus was on ensuring justice for communities facing discrimination.
A memorandum submitted by the Telangana Christian Joint Action Committee sought removal of religion-based restrictions in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and urged the State to pass a resolution, request the Centre to bring legislation, conduct socio-economic studies and strengthen welfare measures. Azharuddin said the issue would be taken up with the Centre and Union ministers, including Kiren Rijiju.
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