Anantapur: The pro-Rayalaseema movement has gradually losing steam by the day, due to poor involvement and non-cooperation from political parties.
Though the Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition in the Assembly hail from Rayalaseema region, they have been unable to encourage the movement, with long-pending issues to do with the backward region remaining unresolved.
Lack of unity among the activists from Rayalaseema, irrespective of party affiliations, has also got to do with the agitation losing steam at various levels since the past few decades.
The crucial period after the state's division reportedly further lowered the confidence of the organisations fighting the genuine cause of Seema following negligence by the governments despite there being a clear mention of special packages to Rayalaseema similar to Bundelkhand and also Uttarandhra's backward regions in the AP Reorganisation Act.
Rayalaseema Karmika Karshaka Samiti president C.H. Chandrasekhar Reddy observed that both the Central and state governments should take appropriate measures to provide assured water supply to the perennially drought-hit Rayalaseema region. “Instead of taking concrete steps to address the issue, both governments are only making false promises,” he said.
The veteran trade union leader, who has been fighting for the cause of Rayalaseema for the past three decades, alleged that the people had been deceived by their own regional leaders since independence due to their political ambitions and the same situation was continuing even today.
Mr Chandrasekhar Reddy also pointed out there was no legal sanctity for Pattiseema or allocations to the irrigation projects in the region. All ruling parties, headed by Rayalaseema leaders, had, since Independence, belied the hopes of the people of this region.
He appealed to all the political parties and leaders to fight for assured and legal water supply to the region and allow the people to continue to live in their own land without having to opt to migrate, this being a common phenomenon in the area.
The Rayalaseema Development Forum, led by CPM MLC Dr Geyananand, observed that the Chief Minister had inspected the HNSS project 13 times during the last two years, “But there has been no proper progress on the project even during the first phase.”
Rayalaseema Hakkula Vedika founder T.G. Venkatesh from Kurnool got Rajya Sabha membership as a TD candidate.
Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samiti founder Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy was taking part in yatras and agitations. Another senior leader Mysoora Reddy has been keeping a low profile after resigning from the YSRC.
