Dalit leader's anniversary celebrations marred by clashes

Hyderabad, Apr 14 (UNI) Celebrations of the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, were marred by clashes between two groups of Dalit organisations leading to mild lathicharge and protest by TRS against the TDP on the Telangana issue.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy led the celebrations in the state by paying floral tributes to the noted scholar and Dalits' leader at the busy tank bund area.

Police resorted to caning to disperse clashing activists of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) and Mala Mahanadu, with the latter disrupting the speech of MRPS Founder President Krishna Madiga, who threatened to intensify stir if SCs were not categorised by April 21.

When TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu garlanded the statue of the late leader, TRS activists raised slogans against the TDP for opposing creation of separate Telangana state. Police had a tough time in bringing the situation under control.

Pradesh Congress Chief D Srinivas and Social Welfare Minister P Subashchandra Bose were among the Congress leaders who paid floral tributes to the late leader.

Speaking after paying homage to the late leader, CPI(M) state Secretary B V Raghavulu demanded that the Congress government should immediately constitute a statutory authority to plan and spend the budgetary allocation for the welfare of the Dalits.

Lok Satta Party President Jayaprakash Narayanan, who also paid homage to Dr Ambedkar, contended that the traditional political parties allegedly ''violated'' the Constitution day in and day out, but were vying with each other to pay tributes to the father of the Constitution.

Reports of celebrations came from all over the state.

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