Mr Krishna Madiga garlanded the Babu Jagjivanram''s statue before commencing the padayatra from clock tower in the town yesterday. The padayatra would cover 1300 kms across ten districts before reaching Hyderabad on May 14, when the Congress government completes two years in office.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Madiga demanded if categorisation of SC bill is not passed before May 13, Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would own moral responsibility, and resign from chief ministership.

He recalled chief minister''s promise that the bill would be passed. He said if the bill is not passed, then MRPS would intensify agitation and obstruct all chief minister''s programmes.

He said Madigas benefits are being taken away by Malas and they are getting only five per cent.

He said Madigas are deprived of their benefits without the categorisation. He said Madigas were not given any posts in the east godavari, represented by state Animal Husbandary Minister Gollapalli Surya Rao.

Heavy police bandobust was arranged, since hundreds of MRPS activists participated in the padayatra.

Meanwhile, police have taken Andhra Pradesh Mala Mahanadu president K Sivaji along with seventy others into preventive custody at Anatavaram centre of Mummidivaram mandal.

East godavari district superintendent of police Naveen Chand and DSP J Kanaka Rao oversaw the bandobast arrangements.

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