Konaseema Rythu Joint Action Committee (KR-JAC) which met in Amalapur on Thursday had sent strong signals to both state and Union governments that the farmers of the coastal area will not hesitate to go for another “Crop Holiday” if the state is bifurcated. A resolution was passed to this effect in a meeting held here at clock tower with thousands of farmers from different parts of Konaseema supported by supporting “jai samaikyandhra” slogans.
The speakers at the meeting stated that as 24 lakh acres of paddy fields in twin Godavari and Krishna districts would become barren lands if the division takes place and farmers of Konaseema will take the extreme step of going for another crop holidy. The farmer leaders have vociferously refuted the charges made by some Telangana leaders that farmers are not taking part in Samaikyandhra agitation in full pledged manner and declared that every person who is taking part in the agitation hails from agriculture family. However, they felt that there is need for farmers to agitate under one umbrella. About 5000 farmers have attended public meeting at Clock Tower centre.
AP State Rythu Samaikya President Yerneni Nagendranath who attended as chief guest at the meeting, expressed his fear that Krishna and Godavari deltas would become deserts if the state is bifurcated as 14 lift irrigation schemes are being constructed in Telangana region and predicted that Polavaram project would be a myth as Telangana would join the bandwagon of states which are opposing the project. He felt that our political leaders are lying that Polavaram project would be reality very soon. He made it clear that farmers are very much part of Samaikyandhra agitation and stressed the need to farmers to agitate under one banner. He called upon everyone to stop the division of the state for the sake of future generations.
JAC convener Yalla Venkatanadam presided over the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, campaign secretary of Konaseema Rythu JAC, Matta Mahalakshmi Prabhakar Rao mentioned that the government has brought food security bill, but it has failed to provide security to the farmers. Coconut, aqua and fish cultures which are affiliated to agriculture would perish if the state is bifurcated. If river Godavari dries underground water level would recede significantly and added that lakhs of workers would lose their livelihood and large number of rice mills would be shut down. By reminding that even United Andhra Pradesh which is strong could not obstruct projects like Babili and Almatti, he questioned how small state like Seemandhra could fight against injustice in water sharing in future. He did also observe that Seemandhra would not have financial status to build huge project like Polavaram if the state is bifurcated.
Organizer T Gopala KrIshna, AP State Agriculture Office Association President Kamalakar Sharma Rambhala Subhash Chandra Bose, Vasamsetty Satyam, I Umamaheswara Rao, Yalla Brahmanandam and representatives from employees JAC Vaka Divakar, Bandaru Rammohan Rao and Kalavakonala Tataji were among who were present.
