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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh farmers' unions accuse governments of illegal land grabs
Farmers' and agricultural workers' unions in Andhra Pradesh have accused both the previous YSRCP regime and the current TDP-led coalition of unlawfully acquiring 1,91,472 acres of fertile, multi-crop farmland over the past decade, bypassing provisions of the 2013 Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act. At a statewide public discussion held here on Sunday, the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham and Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers' Union brought together High Court lawyers, displaced families, and movement leaders to highlight what they called 'a decade of illegal land grabs' in 173 villages across 64 mandals in 18 districts. They alleged that police force was misused to seize land, causing severe damage to the State's economy, cutting rural jobs, and threatening future food grain security. While emphasising they were 'not against development,' the unions condemned the transfer of forcibly acquired land to corporates without fair compensation or proper rehabilitation. The unions listed major projects — from airports and highways to steel plants, solar parks, SEZs, ports, and the Amaravati capital region — which they claimed diverted nearly 20% of the State's cultivated land for corporate use without delivering the promised jobs or industrial growth. They further alleged that in some cases 'not even 10 government jobs' were offered to displaced people, while locals in Amaravati's Secretariat were given only low-paying roles such as watchmen and sweepers. In areas where farmers' organisations resisted, land acquisition failed, they said, while in other places compensation has been pending for decades, citing Polavaram oustees as an example. The groups demanded that the Centre and the State strictly follow the 2013 Act, ensuring farmland for industries is acquired only with farmers' consent and after full compensation and rehabilitation. They warned against further forcible acquisitions for corporates and investors, urging lawful and transparent processes. V. Krishnayya, State president, Rythu Sangham; K. Prabhakar Reddy, State secretary, Rythu Sangham; D. Subba Rao, State president, Agricultural Workers' Union; and V. Venkateswarlu, State general secretary, Agricultural Workers' Union, addressed the meeting.
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rythu Sangham condemns arrest of union leaders in Karedu village
The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has strongly condemned the 'arbitrary' arrest of farmers' and agricultural workers' union leaders at Karedu village in Nellore district. A.P. Rythu Sangham president V. Krishnaiah and General Secretary K. Prabhakar Reddy in a statement on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) said that Mooli Vengayya (District Secretary, A.P. Rythu Sangham), Mangala Pullayya (District Secretary, A.P. Agricultural Workers Union), and Kumar (CITU leader) were detained by Ulavapadu police under the pretext of Section 30 when they attempted to visit Karedu. The leaders termed the arrests an undemocratic and oppressive act, questioning the government's decision to ban people's representatives from entering the village. Blaming the State government, they said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is afraid of people's movements. The arrests are an attempt to suppress public dissent and hide the government's forced land allocation to IndoSol Solar, a subsidiary of Shirdi Sai Group, against the will of local farmers. 'This is a ploy to stifle the voice of thousands of farmers and agricultural workers who are openly protesting the coercive land acquisition. But repression through police force cannot silence people's resistance,' they added.
