Rally to highlight Dalits' issues on Feb 22

New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) A massive rally will be organised here to highlight the problems of the Dalits and to discuss all the social and economic development programmes meant for the underprivileged on February 22 by various social organisations.

Union Ministers Jaipal Reddy, Meira Kumar, Sri Prakash Jaisawal, Ajay Maken and Mahbir Prasad, Congress Chief Ministers Bhupiner Singh Hooda and Sheila Dikshit and AICC General Secretaries Ashok Gehlot and B K Hari Prasad, among others, will participate in the rally to be held at Talkatora Stadium.

Giving the information to mediapersons here, AICC Secretary and Joint Convenor of the organisations sponsoring the rally Jai Kishan said the massive rally was intended to protect the rights of the employees of weaker sections in the government pertaining to promotions and adminissions in educational institutions. A demand to this effect will be submitted to Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Jai Kishan appealed to the Dalit community to come under the banner of the Congress to make the rally a success. He hoped at least 20,000 people would participate in the rally and said this would establish that the community was leaning towards the Congress.

The organisations sponsoring the rally include Kabir Jan Kalyan Morcha, Bhoomiheen Sangharsh Samiti, Dhanuk Mahasabha and Prajapat Mahasabha.

Claiming that the interests of the Dalits were safe in the hands of the Congress-led UPA Government, the AICC Secretary said it was during the UPA regime that appointmewnt of senior officers from Dalit class were made in educational insitutions and the judiciary.

He alleged that during the non-Congress regime officers and men from the community were ignored and removed from responsible posts and the government records were a testimony to this.

UNI