BJP against resolution backing SC status for Dalit Christians

Voices of dissent have started rising against a resolution passed in the Andhra Assembly urging Central Government to render SC status to Dalit Christians.

After BJP leader G Kishan Reddy, another top leader has lashed out against the Tuesday resolution passed by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, supporting Christians on the Dalit quota.

Reddy had informed the Assembly that injustice was done to Dalit Christians by the 1950 order, which deprived them of their social and economic rights, following their conversion to Christianity. He said it was apt time to redress the issue.

Strongly opposing, BJP state President and former union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, criticized the CM and the Congress government for acting in support of Christians.

Dattatreya said it was vote bank politics and that reservation couldn't be shared between SCs and Dalit Christians. He also argued that Supreme Court in 1986 ordered that privileges extended to SCs were not to be benefited by Christians.

Even party members of the Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu has expressed disapproval over their leader supporting the SC status for Christians.

Apparently many of Naidu's Telugu Desam Party MLAs were absent during the Assembly session. Naidu and Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam has supported the SC status for Christians which they said was promised in their 2009 election manifesto.

Earlier, BJP leader Kishan Reddy criticized the resolution and said it would increase conversion activities across the state. He alleged that Christian missionaries would boldly lure the tribal and gullible people into converting their religion.