Birth anniversary of Alluri celebrated

CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, who garlanded the statue of Sitarama Raju on Beach Road, recalled his inspiring fight for three years against the British to protect girijans’ rights.

Students garlanding the statue of Alluri Sitaramaraju as another student in the attire of the revolutiionary stands in front during a funciton organised by the Alluri Sitaramaraju Memorial Cultural Society on the occassion of the revolutionary's 115th birth anniversary on the Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

The CPI district unit on Wednesday celebrated the 115th birth anniversary of revolutionary Alluri Sitarama Raju and demanded that a fitting tribute be paid to him by officially organising his birth and death anniversaries.

CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, who garlanded the statue of Sitarama Raju on Beach Road, recalled his inspiring fight for three years against the British to protect girijans’ rights. His great contribution was being ignored by the government, he alleged. Mr. Satyanarayana Murthy reiterated the demand that Visakhapatnam be renamed as Alluri Sitarama Raju district and restoration of parks in his name at KD Peta, Mampa, Rajendrapalem and his samadhi (grave) at KD Peta and their development into tourist spots. The CPI would continue its fight against bauxite mining in the girijan areas and for protection of their rights in the forest drawing inspiration from Alluri, he said. CPI city secretary M. Paidiraju, AP Mahila Samakhya district secretary A. Vimala and city secretary V. Lakshmi participated.

Statue garlanded

BJP leaders P.V. Chalapati Rao, D.V. Subba Rao, Bandaru Ranga Mohana Rao, P.V. Narayana Rao, M. Ramakrishnam Raju and Kolli Ratna Kumari, YSRCP leaders G.V. Ravi Raju, Pinninti Varalakshmi and A.S.N. Raju garlanded the statue of Sitarama Raju at Sitammadhara. Youth staged a dharna at the statue demanding that the district be named after Alluri. The leaders sat in the dharna at the camp expressing solidarity with them. The BJP leaders said youth should emulate Alluri and strive for development of the country.

RINL pays tributes

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited paid tributes to Alluri Sitarama Raju. RINL Director (Commercial) and CII Vizag zone chairman T. K. Chand garlanded the statue. Leaders of employees’ unions and associations joined in paying homage.

Mr. Chand, while addressing a meeting near the statue at Ukkunagaram, described Sitarama Raju as the saviour of tribal people. He stated that Sitarama Raju relentlessly fought against the British Colonial rulers who were exploiting the tribal people.

Under his leadership, tribal people got organised and rose in rebellion known as Rampa Tribal Uprising against the British Rule.

This gave inspiration in subsequent time to the freedom fighters.

Mr. Chand, while admiring the leadership quality of Sitarama Raju, said the warrior was deep in love with the jungles and its people. Union leaders D. Adinarayana, N. Rama Rao, V. Dhanaraju, Mantri Rajasekhar, Mastanappa, and Tagore from Steel Executives’ Association were also present.