The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : State warned of backlash

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State warned of backlash

Special Correspondent

Continued neglect of poor, underprivileged by government

Representatives from 30 organisations take part
Blockade of Collectorates planned on March 26

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

SHOW OF STRENGTH: A protestor dressed up as Lord Krishna at the public meeting organised by UFPO at the Nizam College grounds in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Speakers at a public meeting organised by the United Forum of People’s Organisations (UFPO) on Wednesday warned the State government of a backlash from the poor if they continued to be neglected.

Thousands of underprivileged people from across the State congregated at the Nizam College grounds. The gathering of representatives from over 30 organisations and of the poor was an initiative of the UFPO.

Women and children

It was a moving sight to see thousands of women, many of them with little children, braving the sun and sitting patiently for over two hours.

Speakers including two CPI (M) legislators M.A. Gafoor and Paturu Ramaiah said the meeting was a pre-cursor to raise public opinion and motivate the poor to make the March 26 programme to blockade district Collectorates a success.

The demands include allocation to different sections of people in proportion to the population, land and pucca houses for those below the poverty line and the like.

Mr. Gafoor whipped up an emotional response from the gathering when he pooh-poohed the ‘un-welfare-like State budget’.

He explained how a much-touted Rs.1 lakh crore budget catered more to the rich.

He referred to how it had an allocation of Rs. 179 crore for minority welfare. So was the case with other deprived sections.

Among the organisations that participated were the Committee Against Caste Discrimination, Centre for Indian Trade Unions, Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham, Rythu Sangham, All-India Democratic Women’s Association and Association for Welfare of Urban Poor.

Traffic affected

Earlier, traffic was thrown out of gear on all roads leading to Nizam College as hundreds of poor took part in a well-organised rally from two different locations --- Sundarayya Vignana Kendram and Indira Park.

The organisations carried placards and showcased their strength with different colour themes.

There were toddy tappers, artisans, agricultural labour and women.

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