YSRCP leaders behind sand loot, alleges TDP

Vijayawada: TDP leaders, including former ministers Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao and Kollu Ravindra, participated in protests against sand shortage on Friday as part of the state-wide protest call given by the party.

Taking part in the demonstration held at Dharna Chowk here, Uma Maheswara Rao said that the sand mafia was ruling the roost in the state. Price of a lorry-load of sand had jumped from Rs 10,000 to Rs 60,000, he said and demanded the state government to reveal as to who was benefiting out of this outright loot.

Alleging that YSRCP leaders were looting the sand and selling it in black market, he said the people were facing severe problems in getting sand under the new sand policy. Nearly 40 lakh building workers had lost their livelihood due to the lack of sand supply, he said.

Former MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao wondered how Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy could claim his government would develop the state while he had failed even to supply sand. Rajya Sabha member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, former MLAs Tangirala Soumya, Sriram Rajagopal, senior leaders Ganne Prasad, K Pattabhiram, Y Ramana, G Ramana, L Siva Prasad, G Raghu, Navaneetam Sambasiva Rao and several leaders were present.

Former minister Kollu Ravindra led the protest demonstration in Machilipatanam town where tense situation prevailed for some time when police tried to foil the protest. The police and Ravindra entered into heated exchange regarding the protest.