BJP protests over absence of Narendra Modi photo

Kakinada : The BJP East Godavari unit withdrew its protest demonstration at Krishi Bhavan on Sunday alleging disrespect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not displaying his photograph at the venue of farmers’ meet on Sunday after assurance from agriculture department authorities.

The BJP activists led by district unit president Y Malakondayya, who entered in to the venue, waited till the completion of PM speech after launching the BJP Kisan programme at national level under which the farmers will get Rs 6,000 as assistance per year.

The assistance is confined to farmers who own five acre or below land in three instalments per year. After the completion of the speech of Modi, BJP activities squatted on the floor in front of the dais and raised slogans against the department for its failure to display the Modi’s photograph.

They alleged that the authorities are conducting this as namesake programme with only a few fertiliser dealers and not with farmers. Sarpavarm CI Govinda Raju arrived at the venue of the meet to arrest the protesters basing on a complaint by agriculture authorities.

At this juncture, joint director of agriculture K S V Prasad reached the spot and spoke to the agitating BJP leaders and promised to display the PM’s photograph in meetings of this kind in future. On this assurance, the BJP leaders withdrew their sit-in protest. Party official spokesperson Tummala Padmaja, party leaders Chinnidi Srinivas, Mamidala Srinivas and others participated.