Kathi welcomes Cabinet decision

Rename AP State as Bouddha Pradesh

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Dalit Mahasabha founder general secretary, Dr Kathi Padma Rao, on Thursday welcomed the Central Cabinet’s decision to bifurcate the State and create Telangana State.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Padma Rao said that the 60 years of demand of the people had become a reality at a time when a Dalit woman, Meira Kumar, is heading Parliament and another Dalit Sushil Kumar Shinde as Home Minister. He said that the decision would develop both Telangana and Andhra in the years to come. He further wanted the government to declare Andhra Pradesh as Bouddha Pradesh to give a direction for the overall development of the Dalits in the State.

He also wanted the Government to make a BC the first chief minister of Telangana and an SC the first chief minister of Bouddha Pradesh. Dr Padma Rao asked the Government to make Kurnool as the second capital for the Bouddha Pradesh to avoid demands of separatism in future. The second capital should hold at least one session of the Assembly every year, he said.

The Dalit leader wanted the Government to select any place between Gudivada in Krishna district to Markapur in Prakasam district as Capital for the new State.