Hyderabad: Leaders of Mala Mahanadu have called for a Telangana bandh on Feb 14 in protest against the state government’s move on on the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. Justice Shameem Akthar‘s one-man commission recommended 5% reservation for Malas in its report to the state govt, which tabled it in the assembly on Feb 4.
“Mala Mahanadu considers the commission’s recommendation unconstitutional and illegal. The state govt or the commission should have consulted the National SC Commission before taking any decisions,” Vadlamudi Krishna Swaroop, leader of Mala Mahanadu, told TOI. He said that while the state govt can constitute a commission, it cannot unilaterally decide on sub-classification of SCs. Mala Mahanadu leaders, after reviewing the report, are planning protests and exploring legal options to block the implementation of sub-division reservations in employment and education sectors. Some leaders have filed a writ petition in the Telangana high court, which is currently listed.
Among the 15% reservation allocated to 59 SC sub-castes, Madigas received 9%, Malas got 5%, and other backward castes in both groups 1%.
The Malas, who have been opposed to the division among SCs, argue that it was done illegally. Following the decision, Malas staged protests across the state, including staging rasta rokos.
