Against the backdrop of charges of large scale purchase of lands by TDP ministers, MPs and MLAs on benami names, thousands of farmers staged a rally in Vijayawada,the temporary of capital of Andhra Pradesh, against the forceful land acquisition.  The farmers from various districts assembled at Tummala Kalakshetram to go on a rally to chief minister’s camp office. Many of them have been arrested while on their way to Vijayawada to participate in the Chalo Vijayawada.

The program has been organized by the forum of various farmers’ organizations in the state. They  opposed the forceful acquisition of land by the government in the name of establishing industrial units and other projects across the state. They are also opposing the creation of a land bank with 15 lakh acres. They alleged that the lands are being acquired only to transfer them to the corporate companies. In the name of setting up industries, the farmers alleged that, highly fertile lands which give two to three crops every year, were also being acquired.

The criticized chief minister Naidu for going back on his promise to give back the lands taken over by the previous Congress government in the name of SEZ.

YSRC stages walk out

On other side, the YSRC staged a walk out of Assembly protesting what he called fake loan waiver for farmers during the question hour. Opposition leader Jagan led the walk out expressing displeasure over the way the loan waiver being implemented. He said the loan waiver had, in fact, put more burden on the farmers rather the making them debt-free. Banks, he said , had been levying penal interest on the farmers which was pushing them into debt crisis. He announced that the party was walking out of the house registering protest on the answers given by the minister.