The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s decision to seek Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians in the state has caused a stir. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decision was backed by the Cabinet, which passed a resolution and sent it to the Union government seeking to amend the Constitution. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strongly opposed to tahe move and has now approached the Governor asking him to halt the process.

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, states that only Dalits of Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh faiths can be categorized as SCs. Last year, the Union government opposed the inclusion of Dalit Christians and Muslims in the SC category, claiming that Christianity does not have a caste system. In response, the government has formed a three-member commission to study the inclusion.

The move to grant SC status to Dalit Christians has been a long-standing demand by the community. However, the BJP and Right-Wing organizations believe that it would encourage Dalits to convert to other religions. They claim that this move will affect the “real Dalits” who would benefit from the rights reserved for SCs.

Opposing Jagan’s decision, Andhra BJP chief Somu Veerraju claimed that the decision would create a rift between Hindu Dalit groups. Meanwhile, political theorist Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd believes that Jagan’s move will not materialize, as he anticipates opposition from within the Dalit groups who identify as Hindus.

In conclusion, Jagan’s move to grant SC status to Dalit Christians has sparked controversy, with opposition from Hindutva extremist groups and the BJP. The move could potentially create a rift within the Dalit community, with some groups opposing it, claiming that it would affect their benefits. However, Jagan’s move is seen as an attempt to increase his electoral base by reaching out to the Dalit Christian community.