By IANS,
Hyderabad : The war between two cabinet ministers in Andhra Pradesh has taken caste overtones with a Dalit group demanding action against Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy for the attack on her cabinet colleague Shankar Rao, the textiles minister.
Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), a Dalit group, Saturday decided to organise a public meeting titled “Self-respect” Dec 27 at NTR Nagar, where Shankar Rao was attacked allegedly by the followers of the home minister Dec 20.
MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga told reporters that a rally would be taken out from Shankar Rao’s residence in Ramnagar to NTR Nagar, where it would culminate in a public meeting.
He also announced that road blockades would be organised across the state on Dec 26 to condemn the attack and to demand action against the home minister. He said even five days after the attack, police had not booked a case due to pressure from Sabita Indra Reddy.
The MRPS leader said the home minister’s son was a land grabber and she was trying to protect him. He said the the home minister should resign owning moral responsibility for the attack on a Dalit minister.
“If she refuses to resign, the chief minister should remove her from the cabinet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shankar Rao also reiterated his demand that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy sack the home minister. He said it was not proper on the part of the chief minister to support someone who is bringing bad name to the government and to the Congress party.
The textiles minister said no action was being taken against the conspirators behind the attack and claimed to have evidence against them. He also remarked that from the police chief to the assistant commissioner of police all the key posts are held by people from a particular caste.
Shankar Rao’s car was damaged when he was attacked with stones, eggs and tomatoes.
The incident took place when Shankar Rao was visiting a piece of land, which is said to be bone of contention between the home minister’s son and another person.