THE POWER OF LATHI: Police beating up sarpanches who came from all over the State to Hyderabad on Friday to stage a dharna in support of their demands. - Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: Sparks flew at the State-level meeting of sarpanches, who owe their allegiance to different political parties, near the Indira Park on Friday much before the rally turned violent.

Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu himself was witness to the angry mood of the participants as a section of them owing loyalty to the Congress took on the State president of the Sarpanches Association Y.B. Rajendra Prasad for his remarks that the Congress Government had given them a raw deal.

The proceedings were further marred when senior Congress leader M. Kodanda Reddy was heckled by the crowd as he referred to the contributions of his party to strengthen the Panchayatraj system.

He appealed to the crowd to be patient as the Government was sympathetic to their demands.

Expressing solidarity with the agitation of the sarpanches, Mr. Naidu said he would have complemented the Congress Government if it had aggressively implemented the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional amendment empowering local bodies.

He pleaded innocence for the wrong done to the system during TDP regime saying the bureaucrats had set up obstacles.

Mr. Naidu expressed an apprehension that the Government might advance elections to the local bodies to accommodate Congressmen in the Legislative Council.

He wanted such a move, if any, be withdrawn.

He also suspected that the Government might prune the representation of members from local bodies in the Legislative Council from two to one a district.

Former Panchayatraj Minister of Telugu Desam Kodela Sivaprasada Rao said the condition of multiple authority for issue of cheques was intended to keep a check on sarpanches ahead of local body polls.

Poll plank

BJP MLA G. Kishan Reddy said the issue was going to be the plank for the elections.

S. Madhusudhanachary and K.S. Ratnam (TRS) also spoke.

Lathicharge condemned

Meanwhile, the CPI (M) State committee termed the police lathicharge on elected representatives of local bodies unfortunate.

In a statement, its State secretary B.V. Raghavulu criticised the previous Telugu Desam Government for not taking steps to devolve funds and functions to local bodies in accordance with the 73rd and 74th amendments.

He urged the Government to take steps at least now to provide gram panchayats with required powers and duties.

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