Date:03/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/03/stories/2008060354430600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A day of protest for Minister

Staff Reporter

Minister gheraoed by CPI(M) activists

Lack of power and water supply in 29th division highlighted
Trade union seeks minimum wages for contract workers

ELURU: It turned out to be a day of raging protest for district incharge Minister Pilli Subhashchandra Bose, who was here on Monday to take part in a review meeting on the Indiramma housing programme under implementation in West Godavari district.

The CPI (M)-affiliated “Pattana Pedala Sankshema Sangham” organised a day-long protest at the Merchants’ Chambers, the venue of the review meeting since 10 am in a bid to highlight their demands by gheroaing the Minister.

The women protesters squatted on the road for more than four hours under the scorching sun till the end of the meeting, seeking the Minister’s attention on the problems faced by the inhabitants of Kummarirevu falling under 29th division in the city due to lack of power and water supply.

Police presence

A posse of police personnel formed themselves as a strong protective wall between the Minister and the protesters and avoided unforeseen events and provided a safe passage for the VIP into the meeting venue. The agitators tried to block the Minister’s passage again while he was returning from the meeting venue in the evening. On both occasions, the Minister handled the situation without losing his cool and gave the protesters a patient hearing.

Kummari Revu area with about 800 households lacked supply of municipal water and power supply.

The poor people, backed by the CPI (M), grabbed a piece of land belonging to the Endowment Department some four years ago and put up huts in Kummeri Revu area.

In response to a protest by the women from this locality during his recent visit, the Chief Minister promised to solve their twin problems.

The agitators produced a girl victim of snakebite before the Minister in their attempt to highlight the problems caused by lack of power in the locality.

CITU dharna

The Centre of Trade Unions, another outfit of the CPI (M), staged a parallel show at the same venue, involving contract workers engaged by the Municipal Corporation of Eluru, seeking minimum wages for them.

The Minister was also greeted by the members of the West Godavari District Sarpaches Chamber with a protest demonstration on his arrival to the meeting venue.

The sarpanches chamber registered its protest against disconnection of power supply to some gram panchayats by Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited for their failure to pay additional consumption deposits (ACD).