Physically-challenged continue dharna

Hyderabad, Nov 27(UNI) Physically-challenged youth, under the leadership of Dalit outfit Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) President M Krishna Madiga, continued their dharna for the second day today, affecting vehicular traffic on the busy Basheerbagh area.

Police put up a barbed fencing and stepped up security on the roads leading to Basheerbagh area, as the agitators continued their protest in front of the Babu Jagjeevanram statue, demanding hike in monthly pension to Rs 1500 as in Puducherry.

Even as Disabled Welfare Minister N Rajyalakshmi tried to convince the agitators to call off their protest promising them that the Government would consider their demands ''sympathetically'', the MRPS leader demanded that the Government concede the demand forthwith.

The Government needed time to study the financial implications, she told reporters. The Government would shortly convene an all-party meeting to elicit the views of various parties on the issue, she added UNI