VIJAYAWADA: The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) leader Medha Patkar on Thursday called upon rights activists to fight against the State government for allegedly breaking laws in the process of building Amaravati, the futuristic capital of Andhra Pradesh.
After visiting villages in Tullur mandal in Guntur district, where the capital city is coming up, she alleged that rights of agriculture workers, Dalits and women have been undermined. They were bullied by the government whenever they showed resistance in parting with their land, she alleged and said, “It is time all those who uphold human rights fought against the injustice being meted out to the people of the villages in Tullur mandal.”
She pointed out that ever since the government began taking land under the Land Pooling Scheme, several youths had become unemployed. “Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and environmental legislations were violated without any compunction,” she said and added that in the process of taking over the lands from farmers, the government had destroyed the lush greenery and agriculture in the region.