*YSRCP urges Justice Balakrishnan Commission to grant SC status to Dalit Christians*

New Delhi, May 30: A YSRCP delegation submitted a representation to the Justice Balakrishnan Commission seeking Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians. Later, addressing the media at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi, YSRCP MPs, former ministers and senior leaders said Dalit Christians continue to face the same social and economic discrimination despite religious conversion and must be given equal constitutional rights.

MP Dr. M. Gurumoorthy said Dalit Christians should be given all rights and protections available to Scheduled Castes. He stated that just as SC status continues for Sikhs and Buddhists, the same should be extended to Dalit Christians. He said several commissions had already concluded that conversion does not change the social and economic conditions of Dalits. He recalled that the YSRCP party government had passed a unanimous resolution in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 2023 and sent it to the Centre.

MP Golla Baburao said a Dalit remains a Dalit irrespective of religion and demanded that discrimination based on religion should end. He urged the Centre to act with equality and justice in protecting Dalit rights.

YSRCP State General Secretary Jupudi Prabhakar Rao alleged that attempts were being made to deny constitutional rights to Dalit Christians by treating them merely as Backward Classes. He said caste discrimination does not disappear after conversion and added that YSRCP would strongly stand with Dalit Christians.

Former Minister Merugu Nagarjuna said three different commissions had recognised the social backwardness of Dalit Christians and demanded that they be granted SC status like Sikhs and Buddhists. He said YSRCP remains committed to the Assembly resolution brought by the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in 2023.

MLA Tatiparthi Chandrasekhar said caste identity cannot be erased through religious conversion and warned that YSRCP would strongly oppose any attempt to deny Dalit rights. MLC Arun Kumar said denying SC status to Dalit Christians while continuing it for Sikhs and Buddhists was discriminatory.

Former MP Nandigam Suresh termed the cancellation of SC status after religious conversion as injustice and called upon Dalit Christians to unite and fight for their constitutional rights. He also asked SC leaders in TDP and Jana Sena to respond on the issue.

The YSRCP leaders demanded that the Justice Balakrishnan Commission submit a favourable report and ensure justice to Dalit Christians across the country.