Left parties call for bandh against transfer of villages to AP

, July 11: Left parties on Friday called for a bandh in Telangana on Saturday in protest against the Lok Sabha passing a bill which paves way for the transfer of some villages in the state to

for the construction of Polavaram Irrigation Project.

Criticising the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill which replaces an ordinance passed earlier, CPI(M) Telangana unit secretary Thamineni Veerabhadram alleged that the interests of big investors were being served in the name of farmers of Andhra Pradesh.

The CPI(M) and other left parties are opposed to the multi-purpose project as it would lead to submergence of tribal habitations.

CPIM-M criticised Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill

Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which led the separate statehood agitation, said it too supported the bandh call.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill was passed in Lok Sabha today amid protest by TRS, BJD and some other parties. TRS, the ruling party in Telangana, is opposed to the transfer of villages.

The Polavaram project was accorded a national status and proposed to be executed by the Centre when the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was passed in the previous Lok Sabha.

PTI