The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Janashakti meet draws good crowd

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Janashakti meet draws good crowd

By K.M. Dayashankar

VEMULAWADA (KARIMNAGAR DT.), SEPT. 11. The good turnout at the martyrs memorial meeting, organised in this temple town on Saturday evening, lifted the spirits of the CPI-ML Janashakthi group.

The Janashakthi group had practically disappeared in the district with the surrender of 47 naxalites along with their weapons in 2002. The Karimnagar police had then organised `Nimajjanam' (immersion) programme to symbolically mark the fading out of the naxalite group in here in September by taking out a huge rally with people.

The Janashakthi launched its campaign for the martyrs memorial meeting from Nimmapalli village of Vemulawada mandal, the birthplace of the movement three decades ago. Incidentally, Vemulawada is the hometown of the Janashakthi Central Committee member, K. Rajanna, and the State secretary, K. Devender.

The party seems to have staged a comeback in Sircilla division, which has always been its stronghold. Vemulawada and Sircilla towns were painted red with party flags and banners welcoming people attending the martyrs memorial meeting. All along the road to the meeting venue on the outskirts of Vemulawada town near the Korutla bus stand, the party put up banners hailing the "sacrifices of the martyrs.''

Appeal to police

People from far-flung villages attended the meeting. The presence of policemen in mufti at the venue irritated the organisers who appealed to them to leave the place and not to "threaten'' people.

The CPI Janashakthi official spokesperson, Chandranna, said they were organising the meeting in "a democratic manner'' after securing necessary permission.

Massive rally

The Janashakthi organised a massive rally from the RTC bus stand to the meeting venue, a distance of 2 km. Arunodaya cultural troupe members enthralled people all along the route and at the meeting venue.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh