Left to continue with agitation independently

Hyderabad, Aug 2 (UNI) Left Parties in Andhra Pradesh today decided to continue with the land struggle on their own, even as the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) maintained that no party had a monopoly over any movement.

In a bid to bring the nation's attention on the land struggle in Andhra Pradesh, Communist leaders from Kerala and West Bengal would visit the city on August four and seven to express solidarity with the comrades, continuing the protest by braving ''bullets'', Left leaders said, dismissing as ''delay tactics'' Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's directive to Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao to hold talks with the Left parties.

''The ball is in the Chief Minister's court. We have put forth our demands. It is for him to respond to them,'' CPI(M) leader Y V Rao told reporters.

While other parties, including the TDP, were free to support the stir, the Left parties would step up their stir in their own way, Mr Rao added.

Meanwhile, senior TDP leader and former Assembly Speaker Yanamala Rama Krishnudu took strong objection to CPI Leader Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy's allegation that the TDP was trying to 'hijack' the land movement in the state started by the Communists and said ever since the TDP was formed, it had been fighting various issues concerning the poor.

Alleging that the present Congress government had failed on all fronts, Mr Krishnudu said his party had every right to agitate for distribution of house sites and termed as ''undemocratic and unconstitutional'' Mr Sudhakara Reddy's statement.

(EDs: Here pick up suitably from related series) UNI