Rajahmundry: The Congress is seeking to regain its lost hold in AP as also other parts of the country by taking up issues and fighting for the rights of the people. As part of this, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Chinthapalli of Visakhapatnam district on August 6 to address the tribals. The region’s tribals are opposing the TD government’s move to allow bauxite mining in the Visakha Agency.
Congress leaders alleged that when their party was in power and wanted to allow mining of bauxite in Visakha Agency, the then Opposition, the Telugu Desam, raised a hue and cry and blamed them. When TD came to power, it was making all-out efforts to allow bauxite mining in the same area, ignoring its earlier stand.
The Naidu government might be interested in getting some kickbacks from the mining deal, and hence changed its stand, the Congress leaders alleged. According to the Congress leaders, a large number of local tribals are opposing the mining. Rahul Gandhi will be addressing the people to explain how the TD was adopting double standards on such issues.
To build up the mood for the Rahul visit, Congress leaders held preparatory meetings in Rampacho-davaram and Narsipatnam to draw the maximum number of tribals to the meeting on August 6.
Similarly, the Congress is also planning to take up a nation-wide campaign for proper implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, to mark completion of 10 years of passage of the legislation under a Congress rule. The party was critical of the BJP-led NDA government for its failure to protect forest lands and instead allowing corporate bodies to encroach upon them in the guise of taking up developmental works.
