Andhra Pradesh

PR faults State on land acquisition

VISAKHAPATNAM: Praja Rajyam (PR) leader Nagababu has deplored the acquisition of thousands of acres of fertile lands from farmers in the name of Coastal Corridor and Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

Addressing a media conference on Saturday, he said that the PR was opposed to development at the cost of loss of livelihood to the common people. He also alleged that there were several irregularities in the acquisition of lands by the State government.

Asked to comment on top leaders of various opposition parties keeping away from the Maha Dharna opposing the Coastal Corridor project, he said that Praja Rajyam was prepared to fight against the issue with all political parties as it concerns the common people.

He refused to buy the theory that the top Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders had kept away from the Maha Dharna as the agitation would give more mileage to the PR.

Mr. Nagababu said that top Communist Party of India (CPI) leader K. Narayana had come, but CPI (M) State leader B.V. Raghavulu couldn’t make it, as he was indisposed. Praja Rajyam supremo Chiranjeevi’s Rayalaseema tour was fixed long ago. He said that the PR main agenda was social justice, women empowerment and ‘gram swaraj’.

Replying to a query, he said that Mitra was one of the key persons in the party who was contributing to the growth of the party and would continue to do so. He said there was no truth in the rumours that Dr. Mitra would be quitting the party.

He said it was for the party high command to decide on pre-poll alliances and the number of seats to be allotted to BCs in the forthcoming elections. He, however, said that the number of seats to be allocated would be in proportion to their population.

PR leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that the State government had already destroyed hills and plains and it has now turned to sea. He demanded scrapping of PCPIR.

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