SC Verdict On Reservations Historic: Telangana BJP

BJP Telangana president N Ramchander Rao today welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling on Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations and constitutional rights for those who had converted to other religions.

In a press statement, he hailed the apex court's decision to uphold a previous ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, calling it a historic victory for the spirit of the Constitution. The verdict reinforced that reservation benefits were meant for genuine beneficiaries, and would curb the misuse of SC status after religious conversion, he said.

Rao alleged that converts to Christianity and other religions had deprived eligible SC communities of reservations, and urged the State government to strictly implement the ruling on the ground. He claimed that for a long time many individuals had been undergoing religious conversions while illegally retaining their SC certificates to claim reservation quotas. "This has caused grave injustice to genuine Dalit children. The apex court's verdict will put an end to such irregularities and ensure justice for the truly eligible SC communities," he said.

Taking a swipe at rival political parties, Rao said that the judgment served as a strong slap in the face to those who encouraged conversions and created confusion around reservations for votes.

He also said that the judgment exposed vote-bank politics, and reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to safeguarding the rights of marginalised sections.