The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has laid a siege to Sub Collector’s Office here to draw the attention of the State Government on problems faced by the people in the city.
The people in large numbers turned out near the Sub Collector’s office on Monday. The police took nearly 200 people into custody as soon as they reached the dharna spot. The police shifted the agitators, including CPI(M) leaders, to Suryaraopeta and Governorpeta police stations.
They were locked up at the police stations till afternoon. The agitators staged a dharna at the Governorpeta police station against the arrests.
The CPI(M) leaders, earlier, addressing the gathering, said that the commonman was not in a position to bear the burden being levied by the government under the garb of surcharges, and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders. The AICC president Sonia Gandhi has announced that 9 subsidised cylinders would be supplied in Congress ruled states, but the State Government is averse to it.
The people were at the receiving end due to inefficiency of the Government, they said. The fuel adjustment surcharge was a burden of Rs.16,000-crore on the people.
The people were at the receiving end due to the nepotism in the Government and its policies on the power sector. The policies were benefiting the private companies like GMR, and the Lanco owned by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal.
The Government was stealing from the people to giving to corporate companies, the said. Rao said that the Government imposed a burden of Rs.20,000 crore on the people in last two years. The people went broke because of the new takes and hike in old one, user charges etc.
The people should teach a befitting lesson to the Government, they said, adding, the Government would fall if it did not withdraw the surcharges.
The CPI(M) Central Committee member Paturu Ramaiah, city secretary Ch. Babu Rao and others were present. eom
