Mala Community Protests Against SC Categorisation, Raises Concerns Over Reservation Rights
The Mala community, a Scheduled Caste group, gathered in Hyderabad on Sunday to oppose the categorisation of Scheduled Castes. They claimed the move was a conspiracy to divide the community and eliminate their hard-earned reservation rights.
The protest, named “Mala Simha Garjana,” was held at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad. Congress MLA Vivek Venkat Swamy addressed the gathering, urging the Mala community to stand united in protecting their rights. He warned that political rulers might use categorisation as a tool to divide the community and strip them of their reservations.
Vivek highlighted that Dr. BR Ambedkar introduced Article 341 to provide reservations for backward Scheduled Castes. He criticized the Supreme Court’s stance on the “creamy layer” and specifically mentioned former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, who suggested that reservations should only be availed twice. Vivek questioned the fairness of this stance, pointing out that Chandrachud’s father also served as Chief Justice. He alleged that such ideas were part of a broader conspiracy to dismantle the reservation system, putting the rights of SC communities at risk.
The Congress leader also emphasized that the SC communities have not exploited others and warned against any criticism of Dr. Ambedkar. “When Baba Saheb Ambedkar gave reservations, he did not differentiate between Mala and Madiga communities. If anyone criticizes Ambedkar, no Mala will tolerate it,” he said. Vivek also dismissed claims that his activism was politically motivated, recounting his role in the Telangana movement and asserting that he never compromised despite facing challenges.
Former minister Rajendra Gopal also spoke at the event, accusing the government of working against the principles of the Constitution laid down by Dr. Ambedkar. He referred to the government as “Manuvadi” and claimed it was introducing a contract system to weaken reservations. Gopal alleged that the Supreme Court’s judgment on August 1, 2024, regarding categorisation, went against Ambedkar’s vision.
Gopal further argued that the government’s actions, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) to stay in power, were aimed at dividing the Mala community and taking away their rights. He called for another movement inspired by Dr. Ambedkar to fight for their reservations and unity.
The event served as a platform for the Mala community to voice their concerns and demand justice, sending a strong message to political leaders about their determination to safeguard their rights.
