Noted balladeer Gaddar on Thursday took umbrage at the handcuffing of ten chilli farmers by the police that took place in Khammam in May this year, and on the open-cast mining expansion projects in the coal belt region of Telangana, through his emotionally stirring songs at a programme held at Bhakta Ramadasu Kalakshetram here.
Mr Gaddar, well-known for his revolutionary songs, made an electrifying appearance clad in trousers and a black shirt, neatly tucked in, wearing a tie, quite unusual to his regular traditional stage attire – dhoti and gongali, at the programme.
The programme was organised to mark the inaugural meeting of the district unit of the Telangana Mass and Social Organisations Forum (T MASS ) here. The Forum, comprising several organisations representing weaker sections, farmers, working class and women, was formed to secure social justice for the oppressed through collaborative efforts.
ADVERTISEMENT
In his characteristic style, Gaddar, Telangana’s widely acclaimed folk artist, rendered songs highlighting the woes of farmers, toiling masses, unemployed youth, and people affected by opencast mining projects.
Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi (KVPS) vice-president Tammineni Veerabhadram, who is also the State secretary of the CPI (M), revolutionary singer Vimalakka, were among those who attended the meeting.
Addressing the gathering, Gaddar deplored that the plight of downtrodden and oppressed sections remained unchanged in the new State of Telangana. He paid tributes to the youth who sacrificed their lives during the Telangana movement.
ADVERTISEMENT
He called upon the activists of the constituent organisations of the T MASS Forum to unite all weaker and underprivileged sections for waging a mass movement against “feudal elements” and achieve social justice.
Mr. Veerabhadram asserted that the T MASS Forum will espouse the cause of SCs, STs, BCs, minorities, women and other marginalised sections by organising joint struggles to mount pressure on the government to address the demands for social justice.
He demanded that the State government create sub-plans for BCs, and minorities, enhance reservation for the weaker sections in proportionate to their population, provide quota for most backward classes in local bodies and initiate concrete steps to uplift the underprivileged sections socially and economically.