The Left parties, CPI and CPI(M) staged a dharna near PWD grounds, Swaraj Maidan, opposing the State government’s move to develop the grounds into Vijayawada Square, here on Friday.
The police forcibly shifted the agitating Left parties’ workers and leaders and shifted them to Pamidimukkala police station. They were raising slogans against the government and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Expressing strong objection to the arrests, the Left leaders said that the police arrested them for registering protest against the government’s undemocratic decision. They urged the people to come out in large numbers to oppose the government move to hand over the only lung space in the city to a foreign firm.
“Major scam”
Earlier, the CPI(M) leader Ch. Babu Rao, addressing the gathering, said that the PWD grounds, which costs around Rs. 1,500 crore was being handed over to private firm to do a business of just Rs. 135 crore. “The government was resorting to a major scam with its decision,” he alleged.
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said that many stalwarts, including TDP founder president N.T. Rama Rao, Left leaders Puchalapalli Sundariah, Chandra Rajeswara Rao and others had addressed massive public meetings at the Swaraj Maidan. It was unfortunate the government was turning it into a complex under the garb of development, he said, and urged the government to desist from such plans.
CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar, CPI(M) city secretary Donepudi Kasinath and others spoke.
Set for a major turnover
The PWD Grounds in the city is set for a major makeover. It would be developed as City Square on the lines of similar famous centres in the West. The government is making swift arrangements to shift the Rythu Bazaar there as part of its plans.
The only lung space in the city will soon disappear with the State government proposing to develop a park/garden at PWD Grounds, popularly known as Swaraj Maidan. The Irrigation Department was asked to vacate the constructions around it on a war-footing.
The government has set a deadline for vacating the constructions by July. The city may have a well-developed park there but it will be deprived of an open space, say Opposition leaders.
