Activists owing allegiance to the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS), a frontal organisation of the CPI -ML (New Democracy), took out a rally in Kothagudem on Monday demanding grant of rights to Adivasis over ‘podu’ lands in their possession for many years.
The rally commenced at Murredu bridge on the outskirts of Kothagudem and culminated in a dharna in front of the office of the RDO in the coal town. Adivasis from several tribal sub-plan mandals took part in the rally. AIKMS district secretary K. Rangaiah, CPI (ML-ND) district secretary P Ranga Rao, former MLA G. Narsaiah and others led the rally.
Later, the protesters laid a siege to the RDO’s office to press for their charter of demands.
The protesters raised slogans denouncing the alleged ineffective implementation of the RoFR Act and delay in sanction of pattas for ‘podu lands’. They demanded that the government check alleged harassment of the Adivasis including the migrant Gutti Koya tribal people by the forest department personnel in the interior agency areas.
