Dalit outfits go after Minister’s scalp

Adinarayana Reddy denies charges, fears threat to his life from Jagan

Ticklish issue: Dalits burning an effigy of C. Adinarayana Reddy, in Kurnool on Wednesday.

Caught in a controversy for his alleged remarks against Dalits on Independence Day at Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Marketing Minister C. Adinarayana Reddy on Wednesday feared threat to his life from Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Mr. Adinarayana Reddy’s remarks drew flak from Dalit organisations after a video clip made rounds in the social media, in which he allegedly remarked that Dalits remained backward as they did not evince interest in getting educated and did not maintain cleanliness. He also allegedly said that reservations conceived for a period of 10 years were being unnecessarily continued.

Mr. Adinarayana Reddy, however, maintained in Nandyal that his remarks were distorted. He claimed to have stated that Dalits must study, maintain neatness and personal hygiene in order to not fall sick.

Alleging that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had animosity towards him as he had defeated his paternal uncle Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, he said Mr. Jagan’s supporters were “waiting for a chance to kill him.” Mr. Adinarayana Reddy said Mr. Jagan would be responsible should anybody harm him.

Condemning Mr. Adinarayana Reddy’s remarks, YSRCP MLAs A. Suresh and S. Aisaiah demanded in Nandyal that the Minister be dismissed from the Cabinet and action taken against him as per law.

Effigy burnt

The remarks triggered protests by Scheduled Caste organisations in Kurnool, Nandyal, and Kadapa, demanding that Mr. Adinarayana Reddy be sacked from the Cabinet and a case booked against him under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act. A few leaders lodged a complaint with the Nandyal III Town police to this effect.

Dharna staged

Special Correspondent in Ongole writes: Activists of the CPI(M)-led KVPS staged a demonstration in front of the Ambedkar statue on the Trunk Road here demanding that Mr. Adinarayana Reddy be dropped from the . KVPS State general secretary A. Malyadri sought booking of a case against the Minister.

‘Naidu should respond’

Staff Reporter in Vijayawada writes: CPI(M) State secretary P. Madhu said the Minister made disparaging comments that the Dalits were unclean, and uneducated, were laggards in education. The Minister was also of the view that the Dalits did not require reservations. The Chief Minister should respond to the Minister’s comments, he said. The Dalit Hakkula Porata Samithi leader Karavadi Subba Rao demanded that Mr. Naidu dismiss the Minister.