People's Democracy

ANDHRA PRADESH

 Fulfil Promises Or Else Face Struggles: CPI(M)

M Venugopala Rao

AS part of the campaign taken up by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) all over the country, demanding the central and state governments to fulfil their promises given to the people during the elections, a massive rally was taken out in Hyderabad on August 26, under the banner of the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district committees of the Party. Led by the state secretary of the Party, B V Raghavulu, secretaries of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district committees, P S N Murthy and D G Narasimha Rao and others, the rally started from Sundarayya Park at Baghlingampally.  Holding banners and flags of the CPI(M) and  placards demanding sanction of house sites, house pattas and ration cards to the eligible people, the rallyists passed through VST, RTC X Roads and Ashoknagar and reached Indira park where a public meeting was held. 

Addressing the meeting, Raghavulu warned the central and state governments of facing the wrath of the people, if they do not give up the decisions which are detrimental to the interests of the people.  The people, who expected something good would be done if the Congress comes to power, are disappointed during the 100-day rule of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre. The Congress rule at the centre and in the state is contrary to the expectations of the people. Terming the rule of the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in the state a mixture of good and bad, Raghavulu pointed out that though the government had fulfilled some of its promises, it could not show any solution to many other issues.  The state government could not come out with any measures to tackle the problems being faced by the common people and the middle class. It has not yet transferred powers, funds and responsibilities to the local bodies. Raghavulu regretted that the government was not even thinking in the direction of tackling the problems of house sites, house pattas, ration cards, land, electricity, and of the farmers and agricultural workers, leave alone solving them.  He demanded the government to appoint a committee to resolve the land distribution issue.

Raghavulu asked the central government to ponder over as to how the masses and middle class people can bear the burdens, if prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas continued to be increased once in every fortnight. It is painful that the government of India did not recognise that increase of diesel price would impose burdens on the entire population, directly and indirectly. Pointing out that inviting foreign direct investment into insurance and telecom sectors and privatisation of civil airlines is against the interests of the country, Raghavulu demanded the government to withdraw such moves immediately. P S N Murthy and D G Narasimha Rao also addressed the meeting.