Farmers show of strength in Rythu Samaikya Garjana

• Take out rally demanding rollback of bifurcation decision
• Fear that the Krishna and Godavari deltas would become deserts if the State is bifurcated
• Stress the need for farmers to agitate under one banner

Amalapuram: Farmers of Konaseema will not hesitate to declare another crop holiday if the State is bifurcated as 24 lakh acres of paddy fields in twin Godavari and Krishna districts would become barren lands if the State is divided, farmers of Konaseema warned

“Rythu Samaikya Garjana”was held under the aegis of Konaseema Rythu JAC in Amalapuram on Thursday. The farmer leaders refuted the remarks that farmers are not taking part in Samaikyandhra agitation in full pledged manner and informed that every person, who is taking part in the agitation, hails from agriculture family. However, they felt that there is need for farmers to agitate under one umbrella. About 5,000 farmers attended the public meeting at Clock Tower Centre.

Earlier, thousands of farmers took out a massive rally from the RDO Office to Clock Tower Centre. Some of the farmers took part in a rally on horses reminiscing Sir Arthur Cotton, who used to travel on a horse. AP State Rythu Samaikya President Yerneni Nagendranath was the chief guest at the meeting and JAC convenor Yalla Venkatanadam presided over the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Yerneni Nagendranath expressed fear that the Krishna and Godavari deltas would become deserts if the state is bifurcated as 14 lift irrigation schemes are being constructed in the Telangana region and predicted that the Polavaram project would be a myth as Telangana would join the bandwagon of States which are opposing the project.

He felt that our political leaders are saying that the Polavaram project would be reality very soon. He made it clear that the farmers are very much part of Samaikyandhra agitation and stressed the need for the farmers to agitate under one banner. He called upon everyone to stop the division of the State for the sake of future generation.

Speaking on the occasion, campaign secretary of Konaseema Rythu JAC MM Prabhakar Rao stated that the government has brought food security Bill but it has failed to provide security to the farmers. Coconut, aqua and fish cultivation would perish if the State is bifurcated. If river Godavari dries underground water level would recede significantly and added that lakhs of workers would lose their livelihood and a large number of rice mills would be shut down.

Reminding that even United Andhra Pradesh not obstruct projects like Babili and Almatti, he questioned how small State like Seemandhra could fight against injustice in water sharing in future. He did also observe that Seemandhra would not have financial status to build huge project like Polavaram if the State is bifurcated.