Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka today accused the TRS Government of indulging in anti-farmers policies and took exception to the lathicharge on the agitating farmers at Mallana Sagar. Unfazed with the arrests of their senior leaders, Bhatti stated that they will continue to support the farmers’ cause. He said to take up Chalo Mallanna Sagar program on Tuesday and called upon the congress rank and file to turn out in large numbers in the protest.
At a press meet at Gandhi Bhavan he condemned the arrest of congress leaders and sought to know why chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is not reacting on the lathicharge and firing incident on the farmers. The government is purchasing the lands and acquiring as per norms for their selfish goals he alleged. He denied charges of Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao that the opposition is coming in the way of land acquisition and doing politics by provoking while the farmers are voluntarily giving their land for the project. He claimed that the bandh was successful and shops and businesses and offices were closed. He attributed it to the arrest of former deputy chief minister Damodar Raja Narsimha, former Minister Sunitha Lakhsma Reddy and other leaders during the protest.
Bhatti alleged that the TRS Government miserably failed to convince the farmers and forcibly acquiring their lands for Mallanna Sagar project which is not helpful. The Congress leader expressed discontent that KCR is belittling the farmers by not reviewing the situation. The congress will standby the farmers if government continues to harass them and acquired the land against norms he said. (NSS)