T. Bellaiah Naik joins NDF
New Delhi, 14 November, 2008 – Dr. Udit Raj, Secretary General of National Dalit Front (NDF) says there are rousing welcomes by Dalits and Adivasis, on the formation of the National Dalit Front.
Powerful leaders and organizations are coming forward to be part of the front, including Mr. T. Bellaiah Naik, a very powerful leader in Andhra Pradesh, who joined the Front today. He is the President of Telangana Sangharshana Samiti and heads an important organization of Tribals, called Lambardi Hakkulaporta.
He believes in the philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar and has been struggling for emancipation of the oppressed in India. Mr Naik was declared as National Secretary of the NDF.
A large rally is being organized on 22nd December in Hyderabad and several Front leaders, including Ram Vilas Paswan, Ramdas Athawale and Dr. Udit Raj have been invited to address the gathering. A spokesperson for the NDF said “Such responses are the real testimony that the front is the need of the hour.”
Dr. Udit Raj said that since launching the NDF, a new ray of hope is being conceived amongst dalits and the oppressed. One reason is that it is led by a reliable and Ambedkarite leadership – Shri Ram Vilas Paswan.
The All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations is organizing a massive rally in New Delhi. Outstanding demands of Confederation, including reservation in private sector, filling the backlog of posts and enactment of the Reservation Act, have not yet been fulfilled, even though they are the part of Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government.
This is one reason that Dalits are not happy with UPA government performance. It has also fuelled growth of the Bahujan Samaj Party, opponents of the UPA.
