Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101574370800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

PMK invited to replicate ‘TN experiment’

Special Correspondent

Ikya Vedika invites S. Ramadoss for meeting

For underprivileged: Pattali Makkal Katchi president S. Ramadoss addressing the Ikya Vedika in Tirupati on Sunday.

TIRUPATI: S. Ramadoss, Founder President of the Pattali Makkal Katchi which has metamorphosed into a full-fledged political party has been invited to Andhra Pradesh by the ‘Ikya Vedika’ representing BC, SC, ST, Muslim and Balija communities to replicate the Tamil Nadu experiment in the State.

The Vedika has organised a meeting here on Sunday with the PMK supremo, Dr. Ramadoss as the chief guest with the twin objective of not only discussing threadbare the gross injustice done to them by the ‘upper-castes’ but also to sensitise the weaker sections against their continued caste and political subjugation.

Initiating the deliberations at the summit, three senior retired senior IAS officers-- I. Venkateswarlu, D.C. Rosaiah and B. Danam who along with others have founded the Ikya Vedika, said as much. They said that the Vedika was anxiously looking forward to ‘Ayya’ as the PMK chief, Ramadoss is fondly addressed in Tamil Nadu to lead the fragmented dalit and down-trodden communities so that they emerged as a powerful and alternative political group as in Tamil Nadu to stake its claim for their elusive political clout. Ramadoss in his address sought to make it very clear that his participation in the meeting should not be misconstrued that he was trying to make foray into the AP politics.