THE Chandra Babu Naidu government is playing with the lives of the people in the merged mandals of Polavaram project by neglecting their sufferings – thundered Brinda Karat in a public meeting held on the culmination of the CPI(M) padayatra, at Chintoor in Andhra Pradesh.

The padayatra was undertaken from November 4-28, from Etapaka to Chintoor, and it traversed 225 villages covering around 600 kilometres. This padayatra was led by Sunnam Rajayya, MLA, T Arun, secretary, East Godavari district committee and was accompanied by scores of Party cadres.

Brinda Karat lambasted the Modi government for its declaration of Polavaram as a national project, whereas in the true sense it is an anti-national project, as it has washed away the habitations of 2 lakh tribals and 200 tribal hamlets.

She reprimanded the TDP government in the state for causing huge hardships to farmers and tribals in the guise of construction of Polavaram project. She seriously objected to Chandrababu Naidu’s calling the farmers, tribals, Left parties and other democratic organisations who are opposing his moves, as fanatics. But in reality he is the one who is a big fanatic, she commented.

The special package which Modi-Chandrababu promised for the state of AP has not been given, whereas the special package to drown the hapless tribals has come displacing 2.75 lakh people by submerging 276 villages and by destroying two lakh acres of forest land, as a result of Polavaram project, she underlined. In the name of development, lives of tribals are being ruined. Chandrababu is not treating tribals and citizens of merged mandals as human beings, she criticised.

Modi and Chandrababu don't have faith in the constitution; that is the reason they are tinkering with the provisions of the Fifth Schedule of the constitution, which is aimed to protect the interests of tribals. The snatching of lands of tribals by offering a pittance is anti-constitutional, she asserted.

She cautioned Chandrababu government to refrain from undertaking anti-tribal, anti-people measures failing which there will be intensified struggles against these mindless policies. She questioned Chandrababu Naidu over its wilful negligence to address the issues of people in merged mandals, after their transfer from Telangana to AP in May 2014. There have been no developmental activities in these mandals for the last two and a half years in the name of Polavaram project. Health and education sectors have been totally relegated and neglected by the AP government in these mandals. Around 16 tribals died in the recent past due to the swelling of legs and due to mysterious diseases. In spite of the precarious health situation prevailing in these mandals, the government did precious little in making contingency arrangements, she lamented.

While pointing out the observations of the padayatra team, she stated that in many villages there are no medicines, no staff in primary health care centres. Even basic infrastructure facilities were missing in almost all health centres.

The poignant situation can be gauged from the fact that even nine month pregnant women who are coming for delivery at PHCs, are being asked to come with one bucket of water so as  to wash the new born baby. This is the pitiable state of health position in these mandals, she said. There is no security to the lives of citizens in these mandals.

Nearly 4000 vacancies for teacher posts are lying pending for more than two years and no effort was made by the state government to fill up these vacancies. Students were worst hit by the deliberate acts of the government, which is unbecoming of a welfare state, she underscored.

While taking away lands from tribals for Polavaram project, they were given compensation ranging from Rs 1.15 lakhs to Rs 1.35 lakhs per acre, whereas for land acquisition for Airport development at Rajahmundry Rs 32 to 82 lakhs per acre was given to farmers as compensation, she stated. Rich farmers were doled out hefty benefits whereas poor tribals were given a raw deal, she anguished.

The villagers have to be paid compensation as per the revised norms and Polavaram project works have to be halted till a proper resettlement and rehabilitation package is worked out to the satisfaction of tribal gram sabhas. Land to land deal has been given a go by and tribals are being thrown out from their places, she explained.

She condemned the attempts by police, district administration to suppress the agitations of displaced persons. CPI(M) party will not tolerate this brute suppression on innocent tribals, she warned.

She demanded the TDP government to immediately provide health amenities and appoint teachers in these mandals by treating them as citizens of this country. There is onslaught on the culture, traditions of tribal people. She called upon the women to fight back the offensive on them with steely resolve and gumption.

P Madhu, CPI(M) state secretary attacked Chandrababu Naidu government for his lopsided policies and informed that on December 5, CPI(M) will try to meet the chief minister on the issues of merged mandals. CPI(M) will soon consult all Left parties to chalk out future course of struggles.

T Arun, CPI(M)  East Godavari district secretary presided over the Praja Garjana meeting. Prior to the meeting, a huge rally was taken out in Chintoor in which thousands of tribals and other people participated. The traditional attire of tribals in the front of the rally added colour to the rally.

Arun severely lampooned the approach of the state government that providing any facilities in these mandals is a sheer waste as the area will be merged due to the Polavaram project. The padayatra continued with tremendous zeal for 25 days  despite logistic difficulties and villagers waited for hours to receive them and to convey their problems to them. He exuded confidence that young cadres from tribal sections are realising the significance of struggles unleashed by CPI(M) and coming for mass movements. People cutting across party lines ventilated their grievances to the padayatra team and they expressed confidence that CPI(M) Party will be in the forefront in taking up their issues, he stated.

Sunnam Rajayya, MLA, Bhadrachalam, Telangana state led the padayatra for 25 days and assured the gathering of affected people that CPI(M) will fight tooth and nail the anti-people policies of central and state governments without any letup.

Dr M Baburao, D Subbarao, M Krishna Murthy state secretariat members,  Kunja Bujji former MLA, TS Prakash, district secretariat member of East Godavari committee, Mangaraju, CPI leader have also addressed the gathering.

Brinda Karat inaugurated a special tabloid brought out by Prajasakthi on the padayatra.