Date:01/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/01/stories/2003120102960300.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Valmikis seek `fair deal'

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL Nov. 30. The meeting of Valmikis here on Sunday demanded that the political parties allot not less than 30 seats to the community in the coming Assembly polls.

According to the leaders of the Valmiki Porata Samithi, the community comprised 80 lakh people in the State and was under-represented in any political forum. The leaders gave a call for the people of the community to support any party that gave them a lion's share. Also, the leaders said the community should work for securing the Scheduled Tribes status to them and mobilise the support of parties to take up the issue. The Samithi planned to hold a meeting at Alampur crossroads in Mahabubnagar district on December 6.

The State unit president of the Valmiki Porata Samithi, Lakshminarayana, and others were present on the occasion.