TDP to take up cause of KSEZ, APIIC affected farmers

Kakinada, Oct 16 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today said he would take up the cause of farmers, whose lands, allegedly, had been forcibly acquired by Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) at Thammavaram village on the outskirts of Kakinada city and those affected by the Kakinada SEZ (KSEZ).

Addressing farmers of Thammavaram village today, the former Chief Minister assured them that the TDP, soon after coming to power, would de-notifiy the lands, measuring 294 acres, acquired under duress by the APIIC in 1999.

He said their demand for higher compensation was justified and blamed the government for allotting 19 acres of prime land at a throwaway price to Congress MLA Mutha Gopalakrishna's son when the entire acquisition was pending in the court.

Expressing his sympathy and support to the Thammavaram farmers, he claimed that they were right in obstructing the MLA's son and his muscle men from entering the lands without legal settlement.

Questioning the arrest of farmers who had objected to the MLA's son and his men from occupying the lands, Mr Naidu demanded the arrest of MLA and his son Mutha Sasidhar also for aggravating the situation and inciting their men to attack the farmers.

Later, during his visit to KSEZ affected villages in U Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals, he interacted with the farmers by taking part in the 'rythu rachabanda' programme at Srirampuram village. He assured them all out support in their fight against the government, opposing the takeover of fertile lands for the sake of KSEZ.

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