NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday demanded that the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Government in Andhra Pradesh stop `repression' against the land movement in the State and arrive at a settlement on the demands.

The CPI (M) Polit Bureau said tens of thousands of people participated in the state-wide struggle for house sites and land. The police resorted to lathicharge in 114 centres.

CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat said cases were registered against 8,000 party cadres and people. Over 950 were arrested and of them 333 were still in prison.

Party State secretary B.V. Raghavulu said he requested the CPI (M) central leadership to take up the issue with the United Progressive Alliance leaders at the Centre.

Speaking to journalists separately, he said the Reddy Government had `systematically watered down' the Land Reforms Acts and was taking steps `favouring the rich and the corporate sector' and against the poor.

Mr. Raghavulu said there were reports that instead of seizing the assigned lands acquired by the wealthy and returning them to the beneficiaries the Government was planning to regularise such holdings. The Government was unwilling to disclose the report of the Ranga Rao Commission.

He joined issue with the Chief Minister for accusing the Left parties of "spreading anarchy." He sought to know how an agitation could be termed so when no protestor attacked government property or caused any damage.

Accusing the Reddy Government of pursuing an "anti-people" policy, he said this found reflection in the Government moving the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision that even owners of assigned lands be compensated in case the State acquired them for development purpose.

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