Date:02/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/02/stories/2007060209600300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Left parties vow to continue land struggle

Staff Reporter

Poor being thrown out of the town, say leaders

The movement taken up only after State failed to keep its promise

Government criticised for slapping non-bailable cases on the poor

ANANTAPUR: The CPI and CPI(M) have launched separate relay fasts in front of the Tehsildar's office here on Friday demanding issuance of house site pattas to the poor on the lands occupied by them at different places on the outskirts of the district headquarters.

Speaking at the protest, district secretary of CPI(M) G. Obulakonda Reddy said the movement of occupying Government lands for the purpose of house sites to the poor was not taken up recently but was a follow up of the party's efforts in the direction for the last two years.

Old issue

He said that a large number of poor people without house sites had given representations to the Government two years ago and several protests like dharnas, laying siege to the offices and indefinite hunger strikes also took place.

The protests were put to rest after an assurance from the Government that all needy and eligible poor will be allotted house sites.

The occupation of land has been taken up only after the Government had failed to keep its promise. He criticised the Government for slapping non-bailable cases on the poor.

Poser

He sought to know from the revenue officials whether they had registered a case or sent any influential person to jail for occupying Government and assigned lands around the town.

He reiterated that the movement will not stop until the problem is resolved .

Party Corporator P. Prasuna and AIDWA leader V. Savitri alleged that the poor were being thrown out of the town in the name of Indiramma houses.

Houses for the poor under the scheme were proposed near Kurugunta, about 15 kms away from the town, they said.

Party leaders M. Imtiaz, A. Manohar, D. Dilshad and others participated.

Stir to continue

On the other hand, town secretary of CPI P. Narayanaswamy said that they will continue the agitation until all the eligible poor are given house sites.

The CPI(M) has been demanding house sites to the poor on 6.48 acre land occupied by others in survey no. 116, on 8 acres in survey no. 159 on SKU road, in survey no. 119 near Syndicate Nagar, in Rahul Gandhi colony and on other Government and assigned lands in the vicinity of the town. The CPI had occupied 3 acre Nidimamidi Matham lands and 12 acres near Samathagram.