State looting farmers: Jagan Mohan Reddy

Visakhapatnam: "I will fight against the forcible land acquisition of the government, said YSRC president and Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to the villagers of A. Ravivalalasa of Bhogapuram mandal in Vizianagaram district, who were staging a relay hunger strike for the last few days. On Monday, Mr. Reddy toured various villages that would be affected due to Bhogapuram international airport and assured the farmers that he would not hesitate to drag the state to the court against forcible acquisition.

Later, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy headed to Gudepuvalasa village and addressed villagers there.

Expressing solidarity with the affected people affected due to the airport, Mr. Reddy said, “The lands of panchayat raj minister Ayyanna Patrudu and Anakapalle MP Srini-vasa were not included in the land acquisition process only because they are benami of the CM. Soon as our party would come to power in the next elections, we will take all measures to return the lands which were forcibly acquired,” added Mr. Reddy

“There is no proper bus facility to our village,” said Narsayamma, of Gudepuvalasa, and wondered why the government was thinking of an setting up an international airport on fertile lands which are needed for farmers’ sustenance.

Later, Mr Reddy visited Kavulavada village. Reminding villagers of Naidu’s poll promises on providing a job to every family and introducing pro-poor policies, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the state government for failing on every front.

Talking to newsmen here on Monday, Mr Ganta said Jagan has failed as an Opposition leader and that his political strategy has proved that Jagan is inefficient and immature. The opposition party has to be constructive in its role but Mr Jagan is inexperienced and not wise, he said.

An international airport was proposed to be built at Bhogapuram area as it is an indication of development of Vizianagaram and surrounding districts. “How can one build anything without land?,” he asked and added that the TD was trying to convince farmers to part with their lands for the airport. The TD government is also considering the demands of the land losers in the project. “But, Jagan has been trying to provoke a section of people in Bhogapuram area for his political mileage.”

“There is no need to respond to Mr Jagan’s statements. It is just because he is the Opposition leader we are reacting,” he said caring him, carried no weight. the state Just because of the numbers in the assembly, the government is answering to Jagan’s questions. Otherwise there is no need to respond to his irrational statements. YSRCP supremo Jagan can’t stop the proposed green field international airport at Bhogapuram, Ganta added.

The minister also added that outsiders would be weeded out from the universities and his ministry has asked the vice-chancellors to evict the outsiders who have been staying in the campus and polluting the academic environment by raking up petty political issues.