DS wants holiday on Phule's birth anniversary

Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas on Monday urged Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to declare April 11, the birthday of noted social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule as a holiday from next year onwards.

Revealing that he had written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard, Mr Srinivas said that the noted social reformer, who was known as the ‘Father of Indian Social Revolution’ was also seen as a messiah for the Backward Classes. He had pushed for reforms in education, employment and political sectors, the PCC chief pointed out.

Responding to Mr Srinivas’s words, BC Welfare Minister Basavaraju Saraiah said that the state government would celebrate Mahatma Phule’s birth anniversary on a grand scale from next year onwards.

Mr Saraiah also said that he would also talk to the Chief Minister regarding Mr Srinivas’s demand of a holiday. He further said that from 2012 onwards, Mahatma Phule’s birthday would be celebrated in each mandal and district of the state.