CPI-M holds massive 'victory' rally

The Communist Party of India-Marxist organised a massive 'victory' rally and public meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday after the Congress government conceded to its major demands.

The demands were distribution of house sites, house pattas and ration cards to the urban poor in Andhra Pradesh.

A ministerial group reached an understanding with the CPI-M on its charter of demands following an indefinite hunger strike by CPI-M leaders for the last six days.

While calling off its agitation, the CPI-M converted its 'Chalo Hyderabad' rally into a 'Vijayotsavam' meeting at the sprawling Nizam College grounds. Thousands of CPI-M cadres and supporters from all over the state converged in the city for the meeting.

Earlier, in the day, a group of ministers led by Home Minister K Jana Reddy held discussions with a CPI-M delegation at the Secretariat. The government agreed to constitute an official committee to sort out the issues pertaining to regularisation of all types of encroachments on lands beyond the cut-off deadline of 1990.

The official committee comprises revenue, municipal administration, social welfare and housing secretaries besides the chief commissioner of land administration.

District collectors have been directed to regularise encroachments. Adequate funds will be made available to the Social Welfare Department for purchasing lands to provide house-sites to weaker sections.

Ration cards will be issued to all eligible new applicants in urban areas. After due deliberations, a slum development policy will be announced.

The home minister said the government would positively consider the request of CPI-M leaders for withdrawal of cases registered against agitators who had demanded house sites, ration cards and lands.

The CPI-M leaders had launched an indefinite hunger strike across the state demanding the state government to solve three immediate problems of the urban poor.

Contending that the government's campaign for removal of slums went against the election promises of the Congress, the CPI-M wanted the government to evolve a progressive slum policy after a debate.

A delegation of CPI-M MPs and MLAs submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on July 18, following which the government constituted the ministerial group to sort out the issues relating to regularisation of encroachments in towns and cities.