A joint struggle committee comprising various political parties has been formed under the aegis of Lok Satta to exert pressure on the government for instituting a CBI enquiry into the VUDA land scam.
Bheesetti Babji, Kolla Suresh Kumar, Naidu Venugopal and Srinivas Joy (Lok Satta), Ram Sashidhar (Yuva Satta), P.S. Naidu (TDP), M. Nagendra and PNV Madhav (BJP), M. Pydi Raju and D. Markandeyulu (CPI), G. Sriniva Yadav (YSR Congress Party) and Allu Raman Rao Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal) were among those who participated in a round table organised at the Visakhapatnam Public Library on Monday. The participants decided to meet the district Collector on April 4 and submit a memorandum seeking the institution of a CBI inquiry into the VUDA land scam instead of the Vigilance inquiry ordered by the government. A former professor of Andhra Medical College N. Srinivasa Rao, who attended the meeting, underlined the need to identify the lands that were grabbed illegally. He expressed concern at the leasing of hills by the government. These hills not only add to the beauty of the city but also protect it from the vagaries of nature.
Similarly, the lands allotted to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant were not utilised so far and their status should be made public. Dr. Srinivasa Rao said the political parties should launch the agitation only after identifying and ascertaining the status of the VUDA lands.
Dharna
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr. Babji said the joint struggle committee would press for the demand for a CBI enquiry into the scam. A dharna would be organised at the VUDA Office at Siripuram on April 9 in which representatives of all political parties would attend. The agitation would be intensified in a phased manner.
Programmes will be organised at various places from Srikakulam to Tuni, which falls under the jurisdiction of VUDA, and the support of all sections of people would be enlisted to bring the culprits to book. Mr. Naidu (TDP) said his party has been demanding a CBI enquiry into the scam from the beginning and seeking recovery of the land. The party had organised protests in this regard and was ready to join hands with other political parties to ensure that the culprits do not go scot-free.
