Kakinada: The CPM secretary P. Madhu lashed out at the Chief Minister , saying that Mr Naidu was making an attempt to fool the people of the state, especially farmers, by holding the Agritech convention in Visakhapatnam on a large scale with the participation of Bill Gates. He told reporters on Friday that Mr Naidu was diverting the attention of the people as well as the farmers from the real problems and not sorting out their problems.
He questioned why Mr Naidu invited Bill Gates for the Agritech summit. He said that the Chief Minister was not taking any steps to improve the quality of life for the farmers. He added that the farm loan waiver scheme has not been properly implemented in the state and the Polavaram project was moving at a snail’s pace, despite ministers and MLAs making frequent visits to the project site. He said that the Chief Minister is resorting to diversionary tactics and he is not solving any of the people’s problems.
Mr Madhu advised the MLAs and the ministers to bring pressure on the Central government to sanction more funds for the Polavaram Project and implement the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act.
He said that there were many other promises like the establishment of Petroleum University, Tribal University, AIIMS and others and sanction of '14,500 crore of funds for filling the gap of revenue deficit to the state. “None of the promises have been implemented till now. A Rehabilitation and Resettlement Package should be implemented promptly under the New Land Acquisition Act and bring in funds for the speedy completion of the Polavaram project,’’ said Mr Madhu.
Speaking of KSEZ farmers’ issues, Mr Madhu said that the government passed an award for 3,500 acres of land for the Kakinada Special Economic Zone. But, the farmers strongly opposed it and did not take compensation for their lands.
Mr Chandrababu Naidu had promised the farmers to give back their lands, if he comes to power. Now, Mr Naidu was suppressing the farmers and farm workers, he said.
The party state secretariat member Dadala Subba Rao said that the agriculture sector was completely in the doldrums and the farmers were in a debt trap. But Mr Chandrababu Naidu was giving false statements about agriculture. He said that Mr Naidu was suppressing the agriculture sector in the name of industrialisation.
