Govt responsible for Dalit youth’s death: Oppn

HYDERABAD: Opposition parties have blamed the state government for the death of a Dalit youth, Mahankali Srinivas, who, along with another Dalit, had made a self-immolation bid in front of the camp office of Manakondur MLA Rasamayi Balakishan earlier, for denial of three acres of agricultural land which the government had promised.

Besides seeking a comprehensive probe into the allegations made by the deceased with regard to alleged irregularities in the distribution of three acres of land to each Dalit family in TS, a promise made by the TRS during the 2014 general election, the Congress, TDP and BJP have demanded that the government take immediate steps to fulfil all its poll promises in order to prevent suicides.

“As this government is not implementing any of its key promises like creation of jobs, distribution of three acres of land to Dalits and construction of 2BHK houses, made in 2014, innocent youngsters are committing suicide fearing about their future,” TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, TDP leader A Revanth Reddy and BJP spokesman S V Subhash said while addressing mediapersons separately here on Sunday.
TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy squarely blamed CM KCR for the death of Srinivas. “Srinivas and another youth, Yalala Parushramulu had set themselves ablaze demanding lands promised to Dalit families,” Uttam said.

As against the promise of giving three acres of agricultural land to nearly 3 lakh Dalit families, land was not given to even 3,000 families in the last three years, he claimed. Uttam, then, recalled that another person Ayub Khan, who attempted suicide in the presence of Transport minister Mahender Reddy in Tandur, died on Saturday. “Ayub ended his life alleging injustices under KCR’s regime. These incidents clearly expose the gravity of the situation wherein poor prefer death to tolerating injustice by TRS government,” he said.

Expressing a similar view, TDP leader A Revanth Reddy demanded that the government register criminal cases on MLA Balakishan for Srinivas’s death. “Before attempting suicide, Srinivas and Parashuramulu said they were denied three acres of land by the legislator. The duo alleged that the authorities had provided land to ineligible beneficiaries. Hence, the government should register a case against the MLA for his wilful neglect,” Revanth Reddy said and asked government to provide `25 lakh as ex gratia to the kin of Srinivas, besides providing them three-acre land and a government job.

TDP SC Cell president Botla Srinivas said the party would observe Karimnagar bandh on Monday to express solidarity with Srinivas’ family. BJP leader Subhash asked the government to provide three acres of land to all Dalit families to prevent such “suicide attempts” by SC youngsters.