The opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have come together and called for a bandh in Rayalaseema on Wednesday.
Left parties, which had called for the bandh last week have now gathered the support of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and YSR Congress.
Opposition parties are alleging that the Telugu Desam Party government, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has failed to disburse the Rs 4,523 crore input subsidy to farmers and also Rs 270 crore worth wages to workers of the MGNREGA programme in the region.
APCC President N Raghuveera Reddy said that the Andhra government had “failed miserably” in taking steps to tackle the drinking water and fodder shortage in the drought-hit Rayalaseema region.
“The government is indifferent to the farmers’ plight. This region is where cattle rearing is a prime occupation and the cattle deaths are increasing. Even though the government is informed of the farmers’ plight, it is turning a deaf ear. We will support the call for the bandh by the Left parties to protest against the government’s atrocities,” Raghuveera Reddy told media persons.
Raghuveera Reddy alleged that farmers with small plots of land and agricultural labourers were migrating to neighbouring states.
CPI National Secretary K Narayana has demanded that the state government allocate 100 tmcft of water for the entire Rayalaseema region, to initiate speedy industrialisation of the region and has also demanded a special drought package for the region.
Narayana called for the bandh on May 24 to “expose the failures of the government” and pressurize it to help the farmers of Rayalseema.
“Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is looting people and giving land worth crores of rupees to Singaporean companies, while depriving the farmers of their livelihood. I call for all the farmers in Rayalaseema to not take the extreme step of committing suicide and revolt against the ruling TDP government. You must be prepared to go to jail. CPI will stand by the people,” Narayana said.
CPI(M) state secretary P Madhu has slammed the state government for pursuing policies which are detrimental to the interests of farmers and the working class.
He alleged that the Bajaj and Reliance insurance companies had collected Rs 21,500 crore from the farmers but had only paid a premium of Rs 714 crore.