THE Left parties are the real alternative before our country and various demands of the people have to be realised through struggles, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said at the culmination of a ‘Bus Yatra’, by Left parties demanding development of Rayalaseema districts, at Kurnool on March 5.

The ‘bus yatra’ started in Chittoor on February 20 and traversed through Kadapa and Anantapur before ending with a public rally in Kurnool on March 5. CPI general secretary Sudhakara Reddy also addressed the meeting.

Yechury, while addressing a well-attended public rally, said the ‘bus yatra’ might have ended but struggles of the Left on various demands would continue till they are realised. It is time, he said, to exert pressure on the ruling classes for implementation of their assurances made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He slammed the Chandra Babu government for not fulfilling any of the 27 promises made to the people of Rayalaseema region. Farmers are committing suicide due to poor irrigation facilities. Crucial projects like Handrinava, Galeru, Nagari and Telugu Ganga have been languishing due to scarcity of funds as the Chandrababu government has done precious little in giving allocations to these projects as well as for the overall development of Rayalaseema districts, he said.

Attacking the Modi government at the Centre, Yechury said it has done nothing for development of the people. Instead, the Modi dispensation is attempting to incite communal passions of the people. Already efforts are afoot to divide university students in the name of religion and the nefarious designs can be witnessed in Hyderabad Central University and JNU, he said. Those demanding education, health and employment for all are being branded as “anti-nationals” by the government. The CPI(M) general secretary said he too has been facing malicious campaign against him by the communal forces.

CPI general secretary Sudhakara Reddy lampooned the central government for its nonchalance in implementing the assurances made in the AP Reorganisation Act while doing grave injustice to backward regions and districts. The rural poor are migrating to urban areas for employment and there also they are getting a raw deal, he said. Chandrababu’s TDP gave party tickets to crorepatis who, after being elected, have no time to look into the problems of the poor, he said.

CPI(M) state secretary P Madhu said that even farmers who own 20 to 30 acres of land are being forced to migrate due to lopsided policies of the ruling classes. The Chandrababu government should feel ashamed about these developments, he said. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna criticised the government over the issue of farmers’ suicides. The rally was also addressed by CPM Central Committee member MA Gaffoor and Rayalaseema Development Committee convenor G Obulu, among others. The public rally was presided over by CPI(M) district secretary K Prabhakara Reddy and K Ramanjaneyulu of CPI. (END)