Years of struggle on SC categorisation paid off: Minister Raja Narasimha

Hyderabad: Welcoming the Supreme Court’s verdict in favour of Scheduled Caste (SC) categorisation, Minister for Health Damodar Raja Narasimha said that the years of Madiga community’s long struggle in the matter of SC sub-categorisation have come to fruition.

Speaking during the discussion on SC categorisation in the Assembly on Thursday, the Minister said the SC categorisation that had been a dream of 50-years for Madiga community, was a very emotional issue.

Reminding that many lives were sacrificed for the cause of SC categorisation, he pointed out that the categorisation was not against any class and the Supreme Court’s verdict was like Sama Nyayam and Sama Dharmam.

Terming the Supreme Court’s judgment as historic, Damodar Raja Narasimha said that he was getting emotional in the matter of categorisation as their struggle for categorisation had become a true after the struggle for 50 years.

"Chief Minister Revanth Reddy spoke to the Attorney General of the Supreme Court as soon as the Congress government was formed in Telangana. The Chief Minister sent a delegation team to New Delhi to appoint a lawyer in the Supreme Court and make strong arguments on behalf of the State government. Arguments were heard in the Supreme Court, ultimately a positive verdict came in favour of the categorisation," he disclosed.

The Minister said the State government would take appropriate measures as per the verdict of Supreme Court and thanked the Chief Minister for his cooperation in the matter of categorisation.

Meanwhile, Former minister Harish Rao welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on SC categorisation issue. He said they were welcoming the historic verdict given by the Supreme Court. “Heartfelt thanks to the judges for giving a great verdict. BRS party has been fighting since the Telangana movement to find a permanent solution to the issue of SC classification. As the leader of the movement, former CM KCR demanded for SC classification. He said it is known to all that the SC classification bill was unanimously approved and sent to the Centre in the first assembly meeting after the formation of Telangana State. On May 16, 2016, KCR met with Prime Minister Modi personally and handed over the letter asking for SC classification. “Since the Supreme Court's judgment has come, I request the Telangana State government to take immediate steps in that direction so as to provide opportunities to the youth in terms of education and jobs,” he added.