Latest news with #Madiga
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Cong Madiga MLAs rush to Delhi to mount pressure on party top brass
Hyderabad: Upping their ante, the four Madiga MLAs have reached Delhi to meet party top brass to stake claims for cabinet berth, as the Cabinet expansion is on cards. A day after the meeting AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, they met party secretary K C Venugopal to further their objective. Led by Adluri Laxman Kumar, the Dharmapuri MLA, the delegation consisted of Manakondur MLA Kavvampally Satyanarayana, Thungathurthi MLA Mandula Samuel and Jukkal MLA T Laxmikantha Rao. They urged the AICC leader to provide a berth in the Cabinet reflecting the proper representation of the community. Earlier during the day, the MLAs said that they were visiting the national capital after representing the matter to the State leadership. They cited this as their fair demand and held that the Madigas should definitely be given a berth in the cabinet. The MLAs said that the Madiga community has been supporting the Congress from the beginning and emphasised that they have no objection to giving Malas a place in the cabinet.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Madiga MLAs intensify demand for Cabinet berth
Hyderabad: With high speculation of Cabinet expansion within days, the Madiga MLAs who have been urging for their due share, intensified their demand on Wednesday. The MLAs who have on several occasions represented matters at AICC level called on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and also Meenakshi Natarajan, the AICC State incharge. The six MLAs who submitted their representation to CM, later met the AICC in-charge at MLA Quarters under the leadership of Adluri Laxman Kumar, the Dharmapuri MLA. While claiming that the Madigas be given proper representation in the Cabinet as per the proportion of their population in the State, they have been raising their pitch for the past few months. This development comes a day after the MLAs held a meeting, where they discussed their plan of action for pursuing the demand. This meeting was attended by Manakondur MLA Kavvampally Satyanarayana, Thungathurthi MLA Mandula Samuel, Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah and Nakrekal MLA Vemula Veeresham, the latter two participated virtually. They have planned to meet AICC top brass including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and also KC Venugopal, while reminding them of the social justice norm of the party. They have intensified their demand following the speculation that Gaddam Vivek's name was under consideration, which represents the Mala community. For the past few months, particularly after the Congress government has passed the resolution 42 per cent BC reservation, the groups including Madiga, Lambada (ST) and besides BCs are fighting it out in favour of their respective communities in the cabinet.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Devuji or Sonu: Who will head the Maoists now that Basavaraju is dead?
A day after Maoist chief Basavaraju's killing, the security establishment is in the process of figuring out who will helm the Communist Party of India (Maoist) next. Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, 70, was the general secretary of the banned outfit, serving both as its ideological and combat head. Two names that have cropped up on India's intelligence wing's radar are Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji and Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu. While Tirupathi is the chief of the Central Military Commission (CMC) — the armed wing of the Maoist party — Venugopal Rao is believed to be the ideological head of the party at the moment. Tirupathi is a Madiga (Dalit) community from Telangana, while Venugopal Rao is a Brahmin. 'Tirupathi's leadership, if he assumes the helm, is going to be pivotal because he comes from a marginalised background and can rally the party's cadre, including the adivasis,' a top intelligence officer from Telangana told The Indian Express. What's striking is that each of them is considered second-rung leadership when compared to two former general secretaries who helmed the party – Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji (56), who was killed in 2011, and Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju (70), who was killed on Tuesday. 'It's the second-tier leadership which is going to guide the party now that many among the older leadership have been killed,' the officer said. Devuji is 62 years old and Sonu is 70. Devuji hails from Jagtial in Telangana, and Sonu is from the state's Peddapalli region. 'We need to see if the party will go for its armed command to take over during this crisis period or whether they rely on their ideological fountain to remain afloat,' a top intelligence official from Telangana told The Indian Express. Another factor the party might consider is the appeal of who it chooses. 'The party may need someone who has a legacy like Venugopal Rao,' an official said. Rao is Kishenji's brother. 'There is a section of people who still consider Kishenji one of the outfit's tallest leaders. Rao alias Sonu could fill that gap,' an officer said. At a time when the recruitment from the Telugu states to the party has practically frozen, even as the offensive by the security establishment is resulting in large-scale killing of Maoist leaders, the party is in crisis, officials said. While the party has been demanding peace talks with the Centre, this has not materialised. 'Most of the old cadre will not lay down arms – a precondition for surrender – till they get killed. That is the unfortunate reality,' an officer said. Some states, including Telangana, where the Congress is in power, have been asking the Maoist leadership to surrender.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Names of SC communities used as cuss words in Karnataka might be changed
The commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, which is overseeing a survey of Scheduled Caste population in Karnataka to draw up internal reservation for them from the 17% reservation matrix, is also exploring the possibility of recommending change in name of certain scheduled caste communities that are used as cuss words. Some of the names of Scheduled Castes communities, including Holeya, Ghantichor and Halalkor, had been used as cuss word in Karnataka, or used to impart a negative connotation. In the survey of scheduled castes, 101 castes and a total of 186 castes, sub-castes and synonymous names are being used for enumeration. The enumerators, commission sources said, have also observed hesitancy among people belonging to these castes to declare their identity openly. 'We have changed the names of the countries, states, cities, villages and roads. Even individuals have got their names changed. In the past, castes have changed their names too. For example, Komiti is now called Arya Vaishya. If this is possible, why not for others? We are working on it,' Mr. Das told The Hindu. He pointed out that of the 186 scheduled castes and sub-castes, many of the names were given by the upper castes. 'Is it possible for a caste to call themselves Ghantichor, which means thief? Even the word vadda, which is colloquially used to call someone brash or dirty, is the name a caste'H.N. Nagmohan Dasretired judge of Karnataka High Court The survey, which started on May 5, is part of the exercise to enumerate the scheduled caste population in Karnataka before arriving at a decision on earmarking reservation benefits to Dalit right (Holeya), Dalit left (Madiga) and touchable castes, such as Lambani, Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Beda Jangama. For decades, Dalit left factions have accused the right factions of enjoying the lion's share in the reservation benefits in public education and employment. On the number of castes, which have been identified to be used in derogatory sense, Mr. Das said, 'The commission is in the process of studying and identifying this. It is not the question of changing castes, but it is change of name of caste. Use of castes for abusing is unacceptable in a civilised society in the 21st century.' The commission is examining provisions in law and the Constitution, courts observations and directions on the issue, precedent, if any, and comparative changes that have taken place in the country. 'We have to explore consequences and ripple effect,' the retired judge said. D. Chandrashekaraiah of Chalavadi Mahasabha, which represents Dalit right, agreed with the commission's assessment of caste identity being used as cuss word. 'We also want some names to be changed. However, the problem is that people do not identify themselves as chalavadis in 10 Old Mysuru district. By the time general census commences in 2026, we are hopeful of arriving at some kind of consensus, and we will also seek a code for Chalavadi. Awareness has to be created among people before that to avoid confusion,' he said. Hesitant to acknowledge caste in urban areas Enumerators have reported back to the H. N. Nagmohan Das Commission about hesitancy among Scheduled Caste people in urban areas in acknowledging their caste. 'We have received oral communication from enumerators about such issues. We will verify this information,' said retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, who is heading the commission to decide on internal reservation. A source in the commission said that it has been noted that many families, which did not want to participate in the survey due to fear of neighbours identifying them as Scheduled Castes, had told enumerators that they would fill up details online, a provision that was given to those travelling, migrating and to those reluctant to participate in physical enumeration. 'Typically, physical enumeration is taking about 45 minutes for 42 questions. We have come across people fearing stigma, and informing the enumerators that they would do it online, or through booth level registration,' a source in the commission said. After the end of door-to-door survey on May 17, booth level camps will be set up between May 19 and May 21 to register those who have missed door-to-door survey. Online survey would be open between May 19 and May 23, for which Aadhaar number is compulsory.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dalit Christians differ on how to identify themselves in Karnataka survey
As the enumeration work to identify scheduled castes for internal reservation is underway in Karnataka, the identification of Dalit Christians has emerged as a contentious issue. While Dalit right (Holeya) groups are seeking a separate column for Dalit Christians, Dalit left (Madiga) groups believe that they are better off identifying themselves with the Dalit caste, from which they converted, to protect their reservation status. Meanwhile, the Dalit Christian Federation is advising them to be identified by their religion, arguing that it will result in better political representation. With the survey being conducted by the commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das set to cover 101 SCs, its outcome, including the population data, social, economic and educational backwardness, will be the benchmark for the commission to draw the internal reservation within the broader 17% reservation set aside for SCs, which they together (left and right) constitute 18.27% of the total population or about 1.09 crore. Internal reservation is a decades-long demand of Dalit left groups that have accused Dalit right groups of cornering reservation benefits. They want slicing up the reservation among Dalit left and Dalit right besides touchable castes of Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Lambani. What courts say The courts have ruled that the SC reservation should be based on castes, and since Christianity does not have castes, reservation cannot be applied. In this backdrop, Dalit right groups are urging the commission to include a separate column for Dalit Christians as the Union Government is yet to decide on their reservation. 'The commission should encourage Dalit Christians to identify their religion so that they can be kept outside the SC reservation matrix. The Karnataka Backward Classes Commission led by K. Jayaprakash Hegde has recommended reservation for Dalits in the backward classes reservation matrix,' a source in Chalavadi Mahasabha, which represents Dalit right, said. The Kalaburgi-based Dhamma Deepa Buddha Vihara has also petitioned the commission seeking a religion column in the enumeration. The 2015 Socio, Economic and Educational survey by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes put the total population of Christians at 9.47 lakh, which included many caste-specific Christian groups, such as Brahmin Christians, Kuruba Christians, Holeya Christians, Jalagara Christians, Madiga Christians, Reddy Christians, Vishwakarma Christians, Vokkaliga Christians and Walmiki Christians, among many others. The survey also identified about 12,865 SC population converted to Christianity, and recommended them to be included in Backward Classes Category 1B, which is 'most backward'. Political representation Sources in Dalit left (Madiga) group acknowledge that members of their community have converted to Christianity in big numbers, especially in the backward north Karnataka region. 'Caste inequality, social backwardness, atrocities by upper castes and poverty have driven many to Christianity. However, even after conversion, their social standing has not improved. In the current context, there is a threat of losing reservation benefits if they identify themselves as Christians. We are creating awareness about identifying their caste only during enumeration,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of the Madiga Samudaya Jagruthi Andolana. However, Dalit Christian Federation president D. Manohar Chandra Prasad, who is also a pastor with the Church of South India, said that they are creating awareness among the converted population and encouraging them to identify as Dalit Christians. 'The new recommendation has provided reservation in the backward classes. There is no need to worry about losing reservation status. We do not agree with the population figure cited by the commission for Christianity. Our survey in 2018 showed a population of about 40 lakh, or about 6% of the population of the State. A correct figure would help in seeking suitable political representation.'
