ROUSING RECEPTION: MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga arrives in Hyderabad on Sunday for the rally after a weary `padayatra'. -- Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Thousands of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) members led by founder Manda Krishna Madiga camped at Dharna Chowk on the road between Indira Park and NTR Stadium waiting for an appointment with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Dr. Reddy is understood to have agreed to meet a delegation led by Mr. Krishna Madiga at 7.20 a.m. on Monday. This is the second time in its 12 years of protracted struggle that the MRPS was headed for a showdown with the Government.

Dharna Chowk was full by evening for "Madiga Tirugubaatu Mahasabha." Unmindful of the blistering heat, they trickled by the dozens and hundreds from all over the State since morning, a number that grew to thousands towards late evening.

Crowds restive

They were waiting to hear Mr. Krishna address them at the end of his "Madiga Tirugubaatu Padayatra" of over a 1,000 km since April 5. As Mr Madiga walked up the dais supported by two volunteers, a roar of applause rent the air.

He thanked leaders of other political leaders and organisations who supported the MRPS.

Reminding Dr. Reddy of his January 20 promise that he would ensure that a bill was introduced in Parliament, the MRPS wanted him to explain what he had done since then. And then they wanted him to say what action he would initiate before May 23, the last day of the Parliament session.

Political leaders who were present and addressed the gathering included E. Peddi Reddy and M. Narasimhulu (TDP), Bandaru Dattatreya, Bangaru Laxman and MLA G. Kishan Reddy (BJP). Other leaders who spoke and expressed their support were president, People's Union for Civil Liberties, K.G. Kannabiran and president, Progressive Organisation for Women, V. Sandhya, and a host of others.

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