Members of the Ambedkarite community in Beed district staged a protest on Tuesday morning against a proposed sub-categorisation plan of Scheduled Castes, which reportedly is being considered by the Central and Maharashtra state governments. The demonstration took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Limbaganesh, Beed tehsil, under the leadership of Ravindra Nirmal, district president of the Bhim Tiger Group.

Protesters voiced strong opposition to the government’s reported proposal to divide the 59 Scheduled Caste communities into four sub-groups designated as A, B, C, and D. Participants expressed concerns that such a move could deepen social divisions, weaken communal unity, and foster mistrust among different Scheduled Caste groups.

The protestors also criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the Justice Anant Badar Committee’s report, which was constituted by the state government to examine the sub-categorisation issue. They alleged that the authorities had solicited objections and suggestions without making the committee’s report public. The demonstrators demanded the immediate release of the report and called for clarity on the criteria and methodology underpinning the proposed classification.

A memorandum articulating these demands was submitted to officials through Mandal Officer Ujjwala Raut, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Vitthal Rathod, and Police Jamadar Avinash Ghungarat. The memorandum was addressed to the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Chief Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister.

The protest drew participation from several local leaders and citizens, including Sarpanch Balasaheb Jadhav, Rajebhau Gire, Shrihari Nirmal, Damodar Thorat, Lenaji Gaikwad, and numerous others from the region.

Separately, Dr. Ganesh Dhawale criticised the proposed sub-categorisation as a potentially divisive "divide and rule" strategy by those in power. He announced plans for a large-scale march scheduled for May 11 at the Beed District Collector’s office, urging broad public participation. Dhawale contended that splitting the existing 13 percent reservation quota for Scheduled Castes into sub-categories was being pursued without sufficient scientific backing and risked undermining the original purpose of affirmative action policies.

He further argued that the sub-categorisation matter falls under the jurisdiction of the national Parliament, making state government intervention legally questionable. Dhawale also claimed that the Justice Badar Committee conducted its work without adequate consultation with key community stakeholders. Emphasising the importance of social justice, constitutional principles, equality, and fraternity, he stated that justice must be balanced across all social groups and cautioned against granting benefits to one segment at the expense of another.