THE Electricity Amendment Bill introduced by the central government should be withdrawn forthwith, the CPI(M) demanded. Statewide protests with placards were held. On May 24, decrying the Modi government’s actions, a protest was held at the RTC cross roads with placards. CPI(M) state secretary, Tammineni Veerabhadram expressed anxiety  that this bill violates the rights of the states and is against the interests of the states. Encroaching into the subjects within the state jurisdiction seems to be the main objective of the centre, he warned. The centre is saying that it will abolish the subsidies and give cash transfer to the people. But that is not going to happen. This will lead to Telangana losing in a big way. In Telangana, electricity is being given free to agriculture. He reminded that this has led to development of agriculture.

The state government opposing the bill is a welcome step. But the state government should not limit itself to issuing statements alone, and they should start an agitation against the bill. For this, Veerabhadram demanded that the chief minister should convene all party meeting and mobilise public opinion. He demanded that the centre should withdraw this bill forthwith. In this programme, Central Committee members, S Veeraiah, G Nagaiah, state secretariat members, B Venkat, John Wesley, T Jyothi along with All India Kisan Sabha vice president Sarampally Mallareddy and other state committee members and members of mass organisations, participated.

CPI(M) DEMANDS CENTRAL
PACKAGE FOR TELANGANA

Demanding that the central and state governments solve people’s problems during the coronavirus lockdown, the CPI(M) staged protests, maintaining social distancing norms, in 33 district centres and 270 mandal centres in Telangana on May 7. Hundreds of people staged protests with placards at party offices, houses among others. People’s issues should be addressed, liquor sales should be stopped till the lockdown is lifted, special financial package should be announced by the centre to the state, grains should be purchased from farmers, and the survey in Nallamala for uranium should be stopped were among the demands.

In Khammam district centre, CPI(M) Telangana secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, Party secretariat member Potineni and others participated in the protest. In Hyderabad Party headquarters, Central Committee member G Nagaiah, state secretariat members B Venkat, J Rangareddy, DG Narasimha Rao, T Jyothi and John Wesley, G Ramulu and senior leader Sarampally Mallareddy staged the protest.

Tammineni said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is only giving speeches but is neglecting the states. No more talk, the central government should release Rs 35,000 crore to the state as a special package. The prime minister is exhorting people what they should do, but not divulging what the government should do. He said the government has left the poor and migrant workers in the lurch. In the same way, the state government should purchase grains from farmers, and till the lockdown is lifted, sale of liquor should be stopped, he demanded.

CPI(M) Central Committee member G Nagaiah said workers should be paid Rs 500 per day. If the state and central governments do not solve people’s problems, they have to face the wrath of the people, he warned. CPI(M) state secretariat member J Rangareddy said unorganised workers and migrant workers are starving without work. To go to their homes in the villages, transport is not being provided.  He appealed that the state government, along with all political parties, should put pressure on the central government. He indicated to the state government that an all-party meeting should be convened. 

The demands made in the protests include special financial assistance by the central government to states; liquor shops to be closed till lockdown is lifted; Rs 10,000 to be given to all poor families for  three months; migrant workers to be provided transport to go to their homes and food to be given; government to purchase grains from farmers for MSP and they must be paid in time; rythu bandhu scheme should be extended to tenant farmers; the poor without ration cards should be given ration and cash assistance; daily essentials such as rice, pulses, oil should be supplied to all poor families; those working in private companies should be paid full wages either by the company or the government; self-help groups women loan recovery should be postponed, and interest abolished; scheme workers should be provided all facilities and given Rs 500 per day; suspension of field assistants should be lifted and they should be taken into duties and they be made to work; mid-day meal workers should be paid three months’ arrears and provided with Rs 1,000 honorarium immediately; various craft workers and small traders should be given opportunity to look for job by relaxing rules; doctors, nurses and other health workers, and sanitation workers, employees, police, should be provided additional facilities for protection of health, and be protected from physical attacks; coronavirus tests should be done for all in containment and red zones; construction workers should be paid Rs 5,000 from their welfare fund; thousands of stocks of food grain should be brought out from godowns and be distributed to the poor; all level private and public hospitals should be opened and all kinds of ailments should be treated; uranium survey undertaken in Nallamala forest should be stopped forthwith; ex-gratia should be paid to those families who died due to coronavirus; withdraw hiked charges of petrol and diesel during lockdown period and the government should convene an all-party meeting immediately to receive suggestions for the problems faced by people due to the coronavirus lockdown.