Date:08/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090855220800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Left parties to intensify land struggle

G. V. Ramana Rao

MACHILIPATNAM: The Left parties will intensify their agitation for distribution of land and house sites to the poor in the State as soon as the ‘jatha’ (campaign procession) being taken out now against the nuclear deal and joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal with the US was completed, according to Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Karat said that from the time the ‘jatha’ entered Andhra Pradesh, he had been receiving several representations about the problem of land distribution and house sites.

‘All-India issue’

When the movement was resumed, national leaders of the Left parties too would participate in it and make it a truly all-India issue. He reasoned that the struggle for distribution of land to the poor and the struggle against attempts of the United States to undermine the sovereignty of the country belonged to the same vein.

The Left parties would be launching many campaigns and programmes in Andhra Pradesh in the future because of this, he said. Communist Party of India central secretariat member and MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said the State Government could distribute, on an average, only 1 lakh acres a year. At this count, it would take a minimum of hundred years to distribute the 1-crore acres available in the State to the poor. The land problem was more acute in urban areas. Mr. Reddy said the Left parties would not be satisfied with the constitution of yet another commission on land issue in the State. The new commission should be independent and must be in a position to implement the recommendations of the Koneru Ranga Rao committee, instead of just making more recommendations.

Forward Block leader Devarajan extended solidarity to the Bhooporatam in the State. CPI leaders K. Subba Raju, A.V. Gopala Rao, CPI (M) leaders Y.V. Rao and V. Umamaheswara Rao spoke. The ‘jatha’, which entered Krishna district from Guntur district, was received at Prakasam Barrage by local Left leaders and activists.