The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : CPI(M) supports farmers’ hunger strike plan

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Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

CPI(M) supports farmers’ hunger strike plan

Staff Reporter

Terms public hearing held on bauxite refinery issue eyewash

Tribals ready to go to any extent on the issue
Rationale behind ‘unilateral’ decision questioned

Mounting opposition: A farmer applauds the decision taken by the CPI(M) leaders against the setting up of the refinery at Rachapalli village in Visakhapatnam district on Wednesday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced its support to the proposed indefinite hunger strike by farmers of Rachapalli, Ramannapalem, Thamaram, B.B. Palem and G. Koduru villages from Thursday in protest against the decision of the government to set up a bauxite refinery.

Party district committee secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao said that a public hearing was organised by the district administration at Rachapalli village on Wednesday.

Tribal belt

Though 500 farmers attended the meeting, Joint Collector Veerabrahmaiah elicited the opinion of only six politicians and unilaterally announced that the refinery would be set up in the village. Describing the public hearing as eyewash, he wondered as to how the raw material needed for the refinery would be mined from G.K. Veedhi and Chintapalli mandals which were in the tribal belt. The issue of bauxite mining was yet to be discussed in Parliament and tribals were unanimously opposing the mining plans and had even announced that they were prepared to sacrifice their lives to stall the project. Mr. Narasinga Rao questioned the wisdom of the administration in taking a unilateral decision on setting up of the refinery though no decision was taken on mining.

The leaders who spoke at the meeting had said that a decision on setting up of the refinery could be taken only after the mining issue was finalised.

The government was, however, adamant and had unilaterally announced that a notification would be issued for acquisition of 2,622 acres as was planned earlier.

‘Withdraw move’

The CPI(M) demanded that the government should withdraw its proposal to issues notices to the farmers. Mr. Narasinga Rao said that poor farmers were tilling 1,680 acres of land in Survey No. 7347 in Rachapalli and Ramannapalem pancyats in Makavarapalem mandal for several years.

They, however, had no pattas for the land in this possession. He alleged that the government was planning to deprive the farmers of their land.

He appealed to all political parties to support the farmers in their struggle for justice. He announced that the struggle would be continued till the government cancelled the agreement made with Ras-Al-Khaima.

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