AP: BJP opposes SC status for Dalit Christians, says real' Dalits will lose out

Vijayawada: A delegation of leaders from state BJP called on Governor S. Abdul Nazeer at Raj Bhavan here on Monday and sought his intervention in the resolution passed by the AP Assembly to provide SC reservation to Dalit Christians.

The BJP leaders led by state party president Somu Veerraju appealed to the governor to get the state government to annul the resolution passed in the assembly and seek from it an assurance to desist from such attempts in future.

The delegation wanted the state government to issue a public clarification that it would not proceed further in the matter until the issue is addressed by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court.

The AP assembly adopted the resolution on March 24 requesting the Centre to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, to extend SC status to the members of SCcommunity who converted to Christianity.

The BJP delegation informed the governor that the move was an attempt to deny social justice and deprive constitutionally mandated reservation benefits to deserving Hindu Scheduled Castes. This was a blatant attempt to appease the Christian conversion lobby and encourage large-scale conversion of SC Hindus into Christianity, it felt.