Telangana NSUI president Yadavalli Venkataswamy has alleged caste discrimination and internal sabotage within the Congress organisation, claiming that he has been targeted and undermined because he is a Dalit, The Mooknayak reported.
In a letter addressed to Dalit, backward class and weaker section leaders, Venkataswamy alleged that a former Telangana NSUI leader from an upper caste, along with some upper caste student leaders, had worked against him since he took charge as state president.
Venkataswamy, who identifies himself as a Dalit Mala leader, said he comes from a poor, first generation political family in Rahmath Nagar basti in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills constituency. He described himself as the first student leader from his community to enter politics and claimed that he was the first Dalit to head the NSUI in the history of undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
‘I Was Targeted From Day One Because I Am Dalit’
According to The Mooknayak, Venkataswamy alleged that he faced discrimination from the beginning of his tenure.
Without naming the former NSUI leader, he alleged that the person had continuously worked against him and his committee. He claimed that efforts were made to financially and mentally weaken him and maintain the former leader’s influence over the student organisation.
He also referred to a protest at Gandhi Bhavan demanding his removal. According to Venkataswamy, some upper caste student leaders were encouraged to oppose him, while certain Dalit leaders were also allegedly brought into the campaign against him.
He further alleged that negative narratives about him were circulated through sections of the media and social media.
Dispute Over NSUI Committees
A major part of Venkataswamy’s complaint concerns the formation of NSUI state and district committees.
He alleged that he was repeatedly prevented from forming the committees despite submitting lists for approval on several occasions.
Venkataswamy claimed that when he eventually moved ahead with the committee formation, the process was allegedly used as a reason to dissolve the committee and remove him as state president before the completion of his term.
He described the dispute as an attempt to limit his authority and maintain the control of a particular group over the student organisation.
‘Upper Castes Cannot Tolerate a Dalit Rising Equally’
Venkataswamy linked his allegations to the wider issue of caste discrimination.
He alleged that when Dalits begin to rise on an equal footing with members of dominant or upper caste groups in politics, education, business or other fields, they can face attempts to suppress them through what he described as “jealousy and hatred”.
He said his complaint was not only about his own position but also about the message such treatment could send to young Dalit leaders.
According to Venkataswamy, portraying a Dalit NSUI state president as inefficient and attempting to weaken him could discourage other first generation Dalit leaders from entering politics.
Appeal to Dalit and Backward Class Leaders
Venkataswamy said the issue should not be treated as a personal dispute.
He appealed to Dalit, backward class and weaker section leaders to take note of what he described as caste discrimination within the organisation.
He also acknowledged that the Congress had provided opportunities to Dalits but alleged that individuals within the party could still harm the political prospects of Dalit youth.
Venkataswamy invoked the legacy of Dr B R Ambedkar and said he would continue to fight against what he described as discrimination.
