VIJAYAWADA:Taking serious exception to the government’s decision not to allow second crop in Tullur mandal of Guntur district, now part of the capital area, the Congress party staged a demonstration at Capital Region Development Office (CRDA) here Thursday.
At 4 p.m., Congress leaders, led by APCC vice-president Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru), along with some farmer leaders, staged a sit-in at CRDA Office. A rickshaw with vegetables and a placard with slogans against the government’s decision not allow farming were brought to the venue of the protest.
For about an hour, they raised slogans against the state government and CRDA special commissioner N Srikanth.
A farmer N Bosi Reddy said the announcement against second crop in Tullur was an irresponsible statement. “One should not forget that farmers are yet to give their consent to part with their lands,” he added.
Nehru described the state government’s step as dictatorial and anti-farmer. “They claim to have acquired 7,000 acre and say another 3,000 acre will be acquired by the end of the month. However, the farmers are yet to sign the agreements,” he said and found fault with Srikanth for not letting the farmers to go in for second crop. He said the Congress party would stand by farmers and fight for their rights.
Former MLA Malladi Vishnu said the Congress would stand by its demand that only 1,000 acre be acquired for the capital region. Fertile lands should be left alone. Consent of the farmers was a must and land should be acquired as per the new Land Acquisition Act (R&R). Congress leaders K Sivaji and D Avinash were present.