The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Byelections give fillip to ST categorisation cause

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Saturday, May 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Byelections give fillip to ST categorisation cause

S. Harpal Singh

UTNOOR (ADILABAD DT.): The byelection to Khanapur (ST) Assembly constituency has given an unforeseen fillip to the movement for categorisation of Scheduled Tribes. In fact, members of the primitive tribes consider the byelection as a sort of referendum on the issue of classification.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) rebel MLA from Boath constituency Soyam Bapu Rao has joined forces with the Tudum Debba organisation in canvassing support for the cause. The organisation, also known as the Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samiti is actively engaged in seeking a vote for categorisation.

“Because of the byelection our activity has received an impetus. We now move more rapidly meeting common people to gather support for the demand,” revealed Mr. Bapu Rao.

Seeking support

“We are not directly asking anyone to vote for Mesram Nago Rao of Congress party or any other candidate belonging to the Gond sub tribe. We just go around seeking support of our people in villages for the demand for categorisation. It is the people who say they will vote for a Gond to forcefully voice their opinion on the issue,” he added.

The MLA has made ‘opinion gathering’ visits so far to about 50 villages in Sirpur (U), Jainoor and Kerameri mandal where Gonds, Kolam, Thottis are in a majority. The Lambada tribe is concentrated mostly in Khanapur, Kadem and Utnoor, the remaining mandals in the constituency.

As the Tudum Debba is convinced of a Gond candidate winning the Khanapur byelection it has decided to organise a mammoth gathering of members of the primitive tribes across the state at Hyderabad. The meeting will be held on June 18 and preparations are on for getting about 2 lakh tribals attend it.

Members of primitive tribes not only from Adilabad but also from similarly backward districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram etc will also attend the show of strength gathering.

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