Actor-politician and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan led a protest at Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, against the drought situation in Rayalaseema. The farmers in the Rayalaseema districts had been neglected due to internal differences of the ruling dispensation, the Jana Sena Party founder said.
"For generations together, the rulers have neglected the Rayalaseema region, forcing thousands to migrate to other states in search of livelihood. I appeal to the people not to bear the injustices anymore," Kalyan said in a statement.
The Rayalaseema region comprises four districts – Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Chittoor. The region has several drought-prone areas and witnesses farmer suicides and mass migrations annually.
He held the protest march on Monday which saw a whole lot of people join in. It took Kalyan himself an hour to reach the venue due to the crowd.
Pawan also assured farmers that he would bring in new policies for the development of the Rayalaseema region. He interacted with local farmers and said that half of the houses in many villages are empty because of migration.
“Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu dubs himself as a savior but he must stand by his word given to farmers,” Pawan said, criticizing the TDP government’s policies towards the agricultural sector.
Earlier this week, stating that neither the ruling party nor the opposition party was bothered about the drought in Rayalaseema, Pawan Kalyan said that the rulers continued to amass wealth even as the citizens faced trouble.
“In the past, leaders meant those who went to jail for the cause of the people. Can Jagan give any direction to the people now, with the cases he is facing?” Pawan asked.
Speaking about the TDP, the Jana Sena chief said, “Despite my respect shown to TDP, they meted out insult. I warn the TDP that Jana Sena is the party which would uproot your rule soon.”
The CPI and CPM also supported Pawan’s meeting and spoke about the drought in Rayalaseema and the failure of successive governments in tackling it.
IANS inputs
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