Protests intensified on Sunday against the proposed hike in power tariff as political parties and farmers held demonstrations.
CPI (M) workers led by Y.V. Rao burnt the effigy of the State government on Sunday morning. Police foiled an attempt by TRS to march with lanterns to the Chief Minister’s camp office in the evening.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy himself felt the heat at Rajahmundry where a group of women at his public meeting questioned the government’s rationale behind the hike when the prices of essentials were out of the reach of common man. Farmers in Dammapet in Khammam district staged a dharna in front of the electricity sub-station holding pesticide bottles.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently in Warangal, said the TDP would discuss the issue during its extended State committee meeting in Khammam on January 9 and finalise the course of action.
Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao said he would write to the party high command against the move.
“This will severely dent the party’s image and will not augur well for the party in the election year,” Mr. Hanumantha Rao said.
Senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya alleged that the frequent hikes in power tariff exposed the Congress’ admission that it would not come to power after the 2014 elections.
Effigy burnt
Nizamabad Staff Reporter adds: CPI (M) activists, here on Sunday, burnt the effigy of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for his government’s proposals to increase electricity tariffs. Expressing concern over the proposals, party State committee member T. Sagar said that they would deal a great blow to the people, particularly the downtrodden. CPI (M) district secretary P. Venkatramulu, leaders Gangadarappa and Noorjahan were also present.
