The city unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will stage a ‘maha dharna’ (a massive sit-in protest) in front of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation office here on July 20. The ‘maha dharna’ is being planned to register protest against ‘negligence’ of the city by the State government.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said that ‘shortsightedness’ of officials and ruling Congress party pushed the corporation into doldrums. The Congress leaders painted a rosy picture about the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme and city development. In reality, it became a curse to the city. Hardly 35 to 50 per cent works were completed though the programme came to an end, he said.
“The government has not released funds due to the corporation under the JNNURM. Instead, it gobbled up the Central government share, which is supposed to be released to the corporation. Municipal Administration Minister M. Maheedhar Reddy blamed the VMC officials for appalling situation in the corporation. If they (VMC officials) are responsible for the financial mess in the corporation, why the government has not taken any action against them?” he asked.
The CPI(M) already launched ‘padayatras’ in the city. Every division would be covered and people would be awakened about the government’s failures. The ‘padayatras’ and awareness meetings would culminate into ‘maha dharna’, he added. The CPI(M) secretariat member Donepudi Kasinath was also present.
