Top Cong. leaders stage protest

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, MAY 11. Four long-distance trains were held up for about five hours today at the Nuzvid railway level-crossing when Congress activists led by Dr. Y. S. Rajsekhara Reddy, Leader of Opposition, staged a dharna demanding that the Government ensure minimum support price for paddy.

The leaders lifted the blockade after the District Collector, Mr. B. R. Meena, assured them over telephone that the State Civil Supplies Corporation and the FCI would buy paddy directly from farmers at MSP and action would be taken against officials if they refused to buy paddy conforming to specifications.

The trains held up were the Coromandel Express going towards Howrah, Konark Express towards Bhubaneswar, the Ratnanchal Express towards Vijayawada and a holiday special from Thiruvananthapuram to Howrah. Congress workers squatted on the track demanding that the District Collector come to them and give an assurance that the MSP would be paid to farmers.

The Congress activists demanded that the Telugu Desam Party withdraw support to the NDA Government at the Centre if the latter did not bail out the farmers.

Earlier in the day, the Congress organised a rasta roko at Hanuman Junction on NH 5 on Friday, in which the APCC president, Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, participated. The road blockade became a damp squib with the authorities diverting the traffic when Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy led the party workers to the Nuzvid railway level-crossing to stage a rail roko. Four trains and two goods trains were detained for over five hours causing hardship to the passengers.

The APCC president was taken away by the police from the spot along with the Congress MP, Mr. Dasari Narayana Rao, and the former Union Minister Mr. P. Upendra. Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy, however, continued the agitation at the railway crossing. He squatted across the track under a makeshift tent erected by party workers. He alleged that rice millers were making huge profits and shared the spoils with the TDP leaders. He said the Chief Minister was expressing helplessness in the matter of MSP for farmers.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said the State Government should spend the Rs.1800-crore market cess collected from farmers for purchasing paddy at MSP. Mr. Upendra sought to know how many errant millers had been delicensed in the view of frequent threat of the Chief Minister. Mr. Daljit Singh, AICC secretary, never got a chance to speak as the police whisked away the leaders.

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Section  : Southern States
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