The Hindu : ZP chiefs chalk out stir plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

ZP chiefs chalk out stir plan

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD July 7. The Andhra Pradesh State Zilla Praja Parishad Chairmen's Forum has chalked out an agitational programme to be taken up in August, October and November, culminating in an indefinite strike, fast and `jail bharo' on the State Formation Day, for transfer of powers to the local bodies.

Chanda Lingaiah Dora, convener of the forum, at a press conference here on Monday announced the schedule of the programme. The schedule is as follows: July 15, motivation by conducting meeting at the mandal/district level by forming committees, August 9, launch of collection of one crore signatures from public representatives/public favouring devolution of statutory powers to the local bodies, October 2, submission of memoranda to the Governor and the Chief Minister, and November 1, indefinite strike, hunger strike and jail `bharo.'

He described the agitation slated for November 1 as "freedom struggle'' for making local Governments (local bodies) independent. It would give productive results to realise the "gram swaraj'' dream of Rajiv Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr. Lingaiah, who is the Khammam ZPP Chairman, charged the Government with failing to devolve statutory powers to the local bodies, despite the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments. He alleged that the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, was not ``responding to our justified demand'' and even the "agitation by the public.''

Hence, he stated, the forum had filed writ petitions against the Government in the High Court and the Supreme Court, seeking implementation of the Constitutional amendments. The petition would come up for hearing in the High Court tomorrow.

The Khammam ZPP Chairman while charging the Government with diverting Central funds even for the implementation of the "one crore boons'' programme described the nodal officers' set-up for Janmabhoomi as "unconstitutional.'' This set-up was implementing the developmental activities, instead of representatives of the local bodies.

The ZPP Chairpersons of Nalgonda and Medak -- B. Prasanna and Sunita Patil -- were present at the press conference.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

30 Cong., TRS men hurt in lathicharge

Govt. allays fears over Manjira project

Kodela puts blame on doctors

Over 400 kids affected in Karimnagar

ZP chiefs chalk out stir plan

KCR accuses Govt. of failure

Nizamabad Collector confirms seven viral fever deaths

Karnataka, A.P. to join hands on RDS

CM rejects free power demand out of hand

Two naxals killed in encounter

Doctors seek withdrawal of GO