The Supreme Court of India has ruled that individuals converting from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot retain Scheduled Caste status, reinforcing existing constitutional provisions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Centre would soon form a committee which would adopt all possible ways for empowering Madigas (a SC community) with regard to their demand of categorisation of Scheduled Castes.
Sixteen people of a village in Medak district of Telangana were arrested for allegedly enforcing a social boycott on members of a Dalit family after they refused to play 'Dappu' (percussion instrument) during village ceremonies, police said on Tuesday.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday approved 139 Padma awards including seven Padma Vibhushans, 19 Padma Bhushans and 113 Padma Shris.
The five-state assembly elections are seen as a now-or-never, no-holds battle for the Congress, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.
Narendra D Modi and his party campaigned in these elections uncharacteristically without any big ideas. Of course, winning each election at all costs could be a big idea as well, observes Shekhar Gupta.
Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, who is on a visit to Karnataka, was on Saturday greeted with black flags by members of the Madiga community who have been demanding reservations for a long time. Sonia is visiting the state to review the situation in drought-hit areas and take part in the birthday celebrations of Shivkumar Swamiji of the powerful Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur. The Madiga community had led a delegation to New Delhi a month ago.
In a development, which can impact the fluid political situation in Andhra Pradesh to a great extent, an influential Dalit organization Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti, has decided to join the opposition' Grand Alliance led by the Telugu Desam party.
The less charitable in the party say he owes his appointment Sonia Gandhi -- the family wanted someone who wouldn't talk back and would not exert himself too much, notes Aditi Phadnis.
The activists of Madiga Reservation Porta Samithi managed to climb the assembly building and threatened to jump over in support of their demand. They raised slogans against the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for the alleged delay in their categorisation of SC
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Hyderabad could term his trip a success even before he commenced his address at the Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium.
Meanwhile, the AP CM said that the TDP is ready to bring no-trust motion against Centre as last resort.
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