Union Minister J.D. Seelam on Friday kicked off the Dalit Chaitanya Yatra from Anantapur in the company of another Minister Panabaka Lakshmi.
The yatra, which was kicked off after garlanding the statue of Ambedkar at Anantapur, received a little more than a lukewarm response in the town
Speaking to the press, Mr. Seelam said that the Congress is not the sole cause for bifurcation and that the consent from all political parties, except the CPI(M) had forced the party to go through with bifurcation.
Nonetheless, he opined that the Seemandhra region is presented with a unique chance to grow in an unprecedented manner with the help of a Congress Government at the Centre, which would facilitate such fast growth.
Even as he said that the UPA government led by the Government had ensured enough safeguards for the realisation of fast growth in the bifurcation bill, he argued that the Dalits owe it to the Congress for bringing about their upliftment.
Meanwhile, Ms. Panabaka Lakshmi said that the Congress manifesto is part of a new deal for the Dalits in the country as it sought to explore employment avenues for them in the private sector too by trying to arrive at a consensus on the issue with the industry.
The meeting was also attended by Tirupati Congress MP China Mohan, besides former Minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad.
Leaders of the Congress party urged the cadre to take the pro-Dalit message in the Congress manifesto to people and ask for their support.
