Why Isn’t Chandrababu Doing Anything About Agrigold victims?

Tuni, East Godavari District: Today, my padayatra entered Tuni constituency and passed through Kothavelampet, Lovakothuru, Jagannathagiri and Tuni town. This is the constituency which the finance minister has been representing for a long time.

Unfortunately, only the ruling TDP leaders seem to be financially well off while all others are staring at penury. The government is looting natural resources as well as harassing people. Everything from temple lands, to hillocks to lakes, all are being grabbed by the TDP leaders. The surprising aspect is that earlier, on the assembly speaker's chair, he did not permit NT Rama Rao to speak. Now, he was taking Rs 500 from the poor man's pension to install NT Rama Rao statues.

It was in Tuni that the police foisted illegal cases during Kapu agitation not only against people from Kapu community but also BCs, SCs, physically handicapped and women, and are continuing to harass them even now.

Hundreds of people who have been victims of Agrigold met me and poured out their woes. They expressed their anger over Chandrababu who was betraying them with fake promises. They said that Chandrababu's term was coming to an end but till date he had not done anything to bail out Agrigold victims. They mentioned that he was more interested in the company's assets and not to help victims.

Later, guest teachers at Social Welfare Gurukuls met me. All of them have studied MA, BEd, MCom BEd, etc. "Sir, there was no use studying so much. We are still paid Rs 7000 only. Daily wage labourers are much better off than us," they told me. How will the teachers be able to impart education when their life is miserable?

The government was taking away lands which were being cultivated since decades for establishing industries. People from Kothavelampet, Rajupet, Seetayyapet and Lovakothuru expressed anger over the government and said that the officials never touched the lands of rich landlords. But they were harassing poor farmers who had small pieces of land, the farmers said.

Ujatha from Jagannathagiri met me along with her 10-year-old son Manikanta. She was in dire state. Her son has a rare blood disease, which makes blood flow incessantly when he gets hurt. Every 15 days she needs to get the boy treated which is proving to be costly. The medicine for this disease is not available at the government hospital. Private hospitals were demanding huge amount. Unable to get that kind of money and also see her son suffering, she is leading her life. Despite all the problems, she said, "Anna once our government is established there should be no child suffering with diseases. No mother should suffer like me. See that everyone gets medicine in government hospitals." My determination to make medical care available to everyone was further strengthened after listening to Sujatha. The padayatra ended with a public meeting in Tuni.

I have a question for the chief minister--Over the last four and half years, you have been saying that Agrigold victims would be compensated. Have you helped at least one victim till date? The victims have been mentioning that with Rs 1,100 crore, 80 per cent of the people can be relieved from the problem. Why is the government not working towards that? What was the intention behind protecting Agrigold promoters? In the name of doing justice to 19.5 lakh people, you are eyeing assets of the company. What is your answer to this?

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