People's Democracy

Andhra CM Visits AKG Bhavan

THE ongoing land struggle being waged by CPI(M) Andhra state committee demanding distribution of land and house-sites to the poor has forced the state chief minister Y S Rajashekara Reddy to meet the CPI(M) central leadership for resolving the issue.

The chief minister, accompanied by AICC general secretary incharge of Andhra affairs, Digvijay Singh, met the CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and central secretariat member V Srinivasa Rao at A K Gopalan Bhawan on June 22, 2007.

Speaking to press persons after the 45 minute long meeting, the chief minister said that talks would be held between the two sides to try to resolve the issue. Yechury said that it has been decided that the state revenue minister would hold discussions with the state leadership of CPI(M) and CPI and only at a later stage, if there is necessity, would the central leadership intervene. He reiterated the CPI(M) demand for holding of an independent enquiry into Indiramma housing scheme. Asked by a reporter whether after these talks, the onslaught of CPI(M) would halt in the state, Yechury said the CPI(M) is seeking a stop to the onslaught of the police and government on the agitation.

In the talks, the CPI(M) leadership informed the CM of the large-scale irregularities in the implementation of Indiramma housing scheme. The Congress leaders were particular that talsk be held at national level while the CPI(M) made it clear that talks should be at the state level.

The CPI(M) leadership also asked the CM to stop diverting the main issue by making irrelevant and irrational attacks on West Bengal Left Front government.

Earlier, CPI(M) activists held a demonstration in front of Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi condemning the police repression on land struggle and demanding distribution of land and house-sites to the poor. (INN)