HRF A.P. and TG conference demands nation-wide caste census, proportionate reservations

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana conference passed a resolution seeking a nation-wide caste census and implementation of proportionate reservations based on it.

The conference also demands the Centre cancels all agreements with Israel and extends solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice. Further, the Forum demands a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the businesses of Gautam Adani and scrapping of all agreements between the Andhra Pradesh government and Adani Green Energy Limited with immediate effect.

The two-day A.P. and TG 10th Conference of HRF began in Anantapur on Saturday (December 14) and was attended by 144 delegates from both States, who reviewed the Forum’s work over the last two years, formulated Rights activity for the upcoming two years, and elected State committees for both States.

K.V. Jagannadha Rao from Srikakulam was elected State president of Andhra Pradesh, Y. Rajesh from Amalapuram was elected General Secretary. Atram Bhujanga Rao from Utnur was elected State president of Telangana and S. Thirupataiah from Jammikunta the General Secretary. K Anuradha from Visakhapatnam was elected the Publications Editor of HRF. The general body also elected S. Jeevan Kumar, V. Vasantha Lakshmi, A. Chandrasekhar and V.S. Krishna as members of the HRF A.P. and TG Coordination Committee.

Several resolutions were passed in the general body meeting including a demand that The Places of Worship Act, 1991, should be implemented in letter and spirit, and the government must end attacks on religious places of the minorities, strengthening the systems investigating sexual violence against women, immediate rollback of New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and implementation of Right to Education Act.

They also demanded the killings in Bastar in the name of ‘encounters’ be stopped, along with alienation of coastal areas for industrial purposes, including tourism, allocation of captive mines to Vishakapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and others.

Later, the delegates took out a rally from the venue to Saptagiri Circle in the town, raising slogans in defence of democracy, right to freedom of speech and association, and paid tributes to rights activists such as K. Balagopal and others.