Left parties stage dharnas opposing FSA, power cuts

Adilabad: Several hundreds of activists belonging to CPI, CPM and other Left parties staged dharnas at the District Collectorates and mandal headquarters in Telangana region resenting the State Government's latest proposal to impose additional Fuel Surcharge Adjustment (FSA) from April, 2013. The activists staged dharna near the Collectorate in Adilabad vigorously opposing the power tariff hike and also power cuts. They raised slogans against the Government and demanded immediate withdrawal of the already increased power tariff in the form of FSA. The leaders, addressing the gathering, said that the Government had imposed an additional burden of Rs 33,000 crore on the people in the form of FSA. It again proposed to collect another Rs 750 cr FSA from April which is highly objectionable. Bandi Dattatri, CPI district secretary, and other leaders were present. The agitations were also held at Manchiryal, Nirmal, Bellampalli, Kagaznagar, Asifabad, Bhainsa and Khanapur, besides Adilabad. Nizamabad: Members of CPI, CPM, CPI-ML (New Democracy), Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) and Students Federation of India (SFI) participated in the dharna at the Tahsildar office here strongly opposing the FSA. They raised slogans against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for allowing the power producing companies to collect more FSA from the consumers. When police tried to arrest them, there were arguments between the police and the activists. Later, police took into custody some of the leaders. CPM district secretary Peddi Venkatramulu and others participated in the agitation. Karimnagar: Power loom owners, led by the leaders of parties, staged rasta-roko in Sircilla town of Karimnagar district strongly opposing FSA and power cuts. The owners have been agitating for the past 11 days opposing the FSA. When police tried to arrest some of the leaders, they protested and were let off. Later, they organised a rally to RDO office raising slogans against the Government. Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader Moosam Ramesh said that they would stage dharna near the Chief Minister's residence in Hyderabad opposing the FSA on power bills. Khammam: Scores of activists, led by leaders of Left parties � CPI, CPM, CPI-ML (New Democracy), staged dharna at Khammam Urban MRO office demanding withdrawal of FSA. In another agitational programme, CPI took out a rally and tried to lay siege to electricity Superintending Engineer's office in the town opposing power cuts. However, police stopped them and took them into custody. CPI district secretary Bhagam Hemantha Rao and others participated in the stir.