Kakinada: SC/ST Forum Seeks Cancellation of SC Certificates After Religious Conversion
Kakinada, Sept 10 (TNT): Members of the SC/ST Welfare Forum staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate here on Thursday, demanding cancellation of caste certificates of Scheduled Caste persons who have converted to other religions.
The protesters alleged that some persons were continuing to avail themselves of benefits under the Scheduled Caste category after converting to other religions and urged the government to take action in accordance with the Constitution and Supreme Court judgments.
Later, a delegation of the forum submitted a representation carrying signatures of thousands of people in support of their demand, to Joint Collector Apurva Bharat.
The delegation contended that persons who embrace other religions do not fall under the category of Hindus and sought cancellation of their SC caste certificates.
The protest was led by SC/ST Welfare Forum president and SC leader Palivela Ashok Babu, along with Nemmadi Satyanarayana, Iyithi Gopikrishna, Nokku Adiraju, Kalakurasa Venkataramana, Kagitha Trimurtulu, Kunche Ramachandra Rao, Saladi Durga Prasad, Kakara Virababu and Yedida Rambabu.
ST leaders Nanda Rambabu, Kakuri Rajababu, Prasadula Lovaraju, Poloju Apparao, Kinchi Rambabu, Ganesula Bhanuprasad and Kakuri Satyanarayana also participated in the protest.
TNT TMR
