CPI protests delay in loan waiver

Some 200 party leaders, workers held. The CPI leader alleged that though 58 lakh farmers qualified for the waiver it was being delayed for 38 lakh stating that there was no support for their claim.

About 200 CPI leaders and workers, including party State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy and district secretary A.J. Stalin, were arrested during a protest on Wednesday.

CPI men laid siege to the Collectorate by squatting at the main gate and later tried to break into the Collectorate leading to their arrest.

Earlier, addressing the protestors, Mr. Murthy said though Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had signed five files when he took the oath, his promise of waiving farm and DWCRA loans was not fulfilled even after five months.

The CPI leader alleged that though 58 lakh farmers qualified for the waiver it was being delayed for 38 lakh stating that there was no support for their claim.

For another eight lakh it was not being implemented. Of the 25 lakh tenant farmers, only 24,000 were sanctioned loans. He said though welfare pension was increased from Rs. 200 to Rs.1,000, some 80 per cent of pensions for the disabled were cut off and only Rs.1,000 was being given. He said that in the name of land for new capital, real estate was being promoted. On Hudhud losses, he said though one lakh houses were damaged it was reduced to only 38,000.

CPI city secretary K V Prabhakar, leaders B. Venkataramana, Ramarajham, Paidiraju, Vimala and Gangabhavani participated.