East Godavari: GV Harsh Kumar condemned political tampering with Dalits
East Godavari: Former Amalapuram MP and senior Congress leader GV Harsh Kumar on Thursday condemned the political manipulation of Dalits under the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government and called for Dalit Simha. Garjana Sabha on 12th January. Speaking at a media conference at the Rajiv Gandhi College meeting hall on Thursday, Harsh Kumar criticized the dashing hopes of the Dalit community under the Jagan government. Emphasizing the need for unity, he invited all Dalit leaders to participate in the preparatory meeting.
He announced a preparatory meeting with Dalit leaders from the state on January 12 at the Bommuru Open House venue. The purpose of this meeting is to provide guidelines for the Dalit Simha Garjana Sabha to be held on February 8, which aims to emphasize on the self-respect of Dalits. Harsh Kumar also drew attention to the persistent discrimination that prevents Dalits from entering temples. He expressed concern over the lack of political power among Dalits and attributed this to inadequate financial resources. This lack of political influence, he argued, was a significant obstacle to achieving social equality. The former MP criticized the government’s decision to remove reservation from government medical colleges and provide seats under management quota.
He also condemned the abolition of scholarships for PG students. He demanded reinstatement of 27 canceled schemes and withdrawal of cases registered against Dalits. Furthermore, he stressed on punishing those guilty of atrocities against SC/ST communities. He also objected to YS Sharmila taking over the leadership of AP Congress, citing her infamous position in another state.
He questioned the availability of capable leaders within the party and suggested that Sharmila’s leadership could pose further challenges. Harsh Kumar stressed the importance of strong leadership for the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, particularly considering issues such as special status, promises of bifurcation, completion of the Polavaram project and safety of the Visakha Steel Plant. He also announced his intention to contest as MP from Amalapuram in the upcoming 2024 elections. The press conference saw the participation of prominent personalities including GV Sriraj and Yara Ramakrishna. As Dalit leaders prepare for tomorrow’s Dalit Lion Roar Preparatory Meeting, the political dynamics in Andhra Pradesh look set for a change.
