THE Mahajana Padayatra being conducted by the CPI(M) in Telangana has crossed the milestone of 3000 kilometres at Thallada in Khammam district on February 5. A pylon constructed there was inaugurated by V Srinivasa Rao, CPI(M) central secretariat member, to mark the occasion.  The team of padayatra led by the Party’s state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram was given a rousing reception by different sections of the people. Addressing a public meeting organised on the occasion, Srinivasa Rao said the kind of enthusiastic support being extended to the padayatra at every village has been conveying the opposition of the people to the failures of the TRS government. He expressed hope that the Mahajana Padayatra continuing without any obstructions would make history. Addressing another public meeting organised at Kallur when the padayatra reached there, Srinivasa Rao came down heavily on the Modi government for its callous attitude even in the face of increasing attacks on dalits, tribals and minorities and suicides of farmers. He pointed out how the Modi government had dragged the common people to the streets and defamed the country abroad with its misadventure of demonetisation of currency notes of higher denomination and its utter failure in creating two crore jobs per annum as promised during the last general elections. Srinivasa Rao explained that only those who have dedication, commitment and determination can undertake such an extraordinary exercise like the Mahajana Padayatra and asserted that the TRS government, which has been resorting to anti-people policies, would realise shortly what the power of the people is and that the increasing support of the people to the padayatra is a living testimony to that trend.

Veerabhadram reminded that before commencement of the padayatra, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had complimented that the CPI(M) was a disciplined and principled party, but after announcing undertaking of the padayatra, the government had withdrawn the gunmen provided to him for protection.  He warned that the CPI(M) would act like a rankling sting, if the TRS government continues to fail to fulfill promises given to the people. Veerabhadram made it clear that the Party has not been provoking the people, but has been fighting on their behalf to ensure that they achieve the rights due to them.  He warned that till the promises given during the elections are fulfilled, the CM would not be allowed to enjoy a sound sleep.