Protests in Khammam ZP meet

Non-inclusion of chilli ryots’ issues flayed

Farmers’ woes: Congress MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy holding a placard at Zilla Parishad meeting hall in Khammam on Friday.

The Zilla Parishad general body meeting held here on Friday was marred by protests as the members of the Opposition parties, including Congress MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy, staged a walk out resenting the alleged non-inclusion of the chilli farmers’ issues in the agenda.

Chaos prevailed soon after the commencement of the meeting, when Mr. Sudhakar Reddy and other members of the Opposition parties, including the Left parties, insisted that the burning issues like the woes of chilli farmers, drinking water scarcity should be discussed on top priority.

Resolution

They further sought a resolution condemning the recent incident of handcuffing of chilli farmers and seeking remunerative price to farmers hard hit by crash in the price of chilli. They staged a walkout from the meeting amid the din. Later, the meeting resumed without the members of the Opposition parties.

The meeting deliberated on Haritha Haram, MGNREG.ahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and other topics listed in the agenda. The ZP Chairperson G Kavitha presided over the meeting. Collector D. S. Lokesh Kuma were present.