Scores of Adivasis owing allegiance to CPI (ML-New Democracy) took to the streets in Bhadrachalam on Wednesday, in pursuit of their demand for creation of an Adivasi district.
The demonstrators marched through the main streets as part of a rally held in this connection, which culminated in a meeting at the Red Cross Building in the afternoon.
Addressing the gathering, the CPI (ML-ND) State assistant secretary Potu Ranga Rao alleged that the State government initiated the process of reorganisation of districts in an unscientific manner jeopardising the interests of Adivasis inhabiting the vast Bhadrachalam Agency. The move to include Bhadrachalam Agency in the proposed Kothagudem district will compel Adivasis living in Wajedu and Venkatapuram mandals to travel a long distance of around 200 km to reach Kothagudem, the proposed new district headquarters, he pointed out. The government should concede the long-pending demand of Adivasis for an Adivasi district by upgrading the Bhadrachalam divisional headquarters into a district headquarters, he demanded.
