Khammam: The villagers of Pichukulapadu, Yatapaka and Kannaigudem in Bhadarachalam mandal, led by the Congress leaders, staged a dharna in Bhadrachalam on Thursday demanding the central government to transfer back three panchayats in Andhra Pradesh to Telangana as it would be more convenient for them to stay with Telangana. The three panchayats, located very close to Bhadrachalam town, have been transferred to Andhra Pradesh, as part of the merger of seven mandals that would be affected by Polavaram project.
The villagers say that their inclusion into Andhra Pradesh would cause trouble to them as they will have to cross the state borders if they want to move to other four mandals in Telangana. They say remaining with Telangana will enable them to move freely between their villages and other places which they frequently visit for various purposes.
All the villages in Bhadrachalam mandal, except the temple town of Bhadrachalam, have been transferred to Andhra Pradesh.
The protestors took out a rally from Ambedkar statue to Godavari bridge which disrupted traffic on the Bhadrachalam-Khammam road for nearly an hour. Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdary, who led the stir, drove a tractor in the procession.
Addressing the protestors, Ms Renuka Chowdary said people of the three panchayats were facing problem in moving between other four mandals. The villagers are being forced to cross checkposts as the four mandals fall in Telangana while they are in Andhra Pradesh.
The MP criticised the BJP government failing to consider these issues while transferring the panchayats to Andhra Pradesh. "The transfer of the panchayats is not a wise decision," she said. She wanted the Centre to issue an ordinance to annex these villages back to Telangana.
Training her guns on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao, she said he had failed to fulfill his promise regarding protecting the rights of tribals.
Madhira MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka too faulted the BJP for its decision which, he said, were detrimental to the interests of the people.
He urged the government to shift back the panchayats to
Telangana.
Khammam MLA Puvvada Ajay Kumar, party leaders Y. Krishna, R. Kantha Rao and others took part in the
rally.
