The Hindu : Bharat Ratna sought for Jagjivan Ram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Bharat Ratna sought for Jagjivan Ram

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 31. Several organisations fighting for the cause of the Scheduled Castes (SC) have reiterated their demand for conferring Bharat Ratna on Babu Jagjivan Ram. They have also sought allotment of three more acres of land at Tank Bund where Ambedkar's statue is to be shifted. The demands assume significance in view of their birth anniversaries falling on April 5 and 14 respectively.

At a press conference today, leaders of different SC organisations, the Chairman of the Government committee constituted for celebrating the events, J. B. Raju, and its 12 conveners also urged that April 5 be declared holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

They urged the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to take up the issue of conferring Bharat Ratna on Jagjivanram with the Centre and recalled his promise in this regard.

They said, a three-acre land was available near the site where the Ambedkar statue was to be shifted and urged clubbing of both the sites. An `Ambedkar Square' could be developed on the five-acre land on the lines of the NTR memorial, as planned by the Government.

Mr. Raju said that arrangements were in full swing to celebrate both the jayantis in a big way.

The Commissioner for Social Welfare, P. Sundar Kumar, said that Rs. 15.4 lakhs had been released for the celebrations, including Rs. 20,000 to each district.

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Andhra Pradesh