The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has alleged that attacks on Dalits in Andhra Pradesh have become common since Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy became chief minister of the state. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed that there have been about 100 attacks in the past 14 months, including tonsuring, gang rapes and beating of Dalits to death.
TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh also accused the YSRCP government of trying to weaken the case related to the death of a Dalit youth in Chirala. The victim had died after being beaten by policemen for not wearing a face mask. Lokesh also shared visuals of Jaganmohan Reddy and other ruling members of YSRCP on his Twitter account, questioning why they were not seen wearing masks in public.
TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, who contested in Rajya Sabha elections recently, also demanded for a CBI probe into the attacks. Alleging that the CM is provoking counter agitations against Dalits, Ramaiah said, “There have been several attacks on people belonging to the Scheduled Castes. A minister from Jaganmohan Reddy’s cabinet, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, used abusive language against a Dalit magistrate. Even his complaint wasn’t registered by the police. If a magistrate can be threatened like this, what will happen to ordinary Dalits?” Ramaiah cited more instances of the state’s apathy towards violence against Dalits, saying, “A Dalit was tonsured by police with the help of YSRCP leaders but not a single man was arrested. A Dalit wowan was gang raped by 12 persons but no action was taken. The government has not even revealed her health condition.”
Ruling YSRCP leaders have responded by saying that the government is not targeting any community in the state. The party stated that, “The government has acted wherever there have been any atrocities and attacks against anyone, and the rule of law prevails.”