Left parties, Congress seek withdrawal of cases against protesters in Eluru

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Left parties and the Congress have condemned the alleged filing of cases against CPI(M) leaders and activists who staged a peaceful protest in front of the Eluru Collectorate on Monday, demanding an end to alleged police cases and harassment of tribal people in the Agency area.

The parties alleged that the protest was organised against the filing of cases and opening of rowdy sheets against tribal people and the alleged repression of the tribal land movement. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the cases.

In a joint statement, CPI(M) district secretary R. Lingaraju, CPI district secretary M. Krishna Chaitanya, CPI(ML)-New Democracy district spokesperson U. Venkateswara Rao, MCPI(U) district secretary Nagaraju, CPI(ML) leader Nagaraju, CPI(ML) Mass Line district secretary S.K. Ghouse and Congress district president Rajanala Ramamohan Rao criticised the alleged police action.

The leaders said they had informed the police in advance and sought permission to hold the protest. They alleged that cases were booked against the protesters after the demonstration by portraying it as a road blockade.

They questioned whether people could be prevented from holding a peaceful protest in front of a Collectorate in a democracy, and said the right to question the government and stage protests was guaranteed by the Constitution.

The leaders said the protesters were taken to the Collector by the police after Monday’s demonstration and submitted a representation. The Collector, they said, assured them that a joint meeting of Agency tahsildars would be convened in the presence of the Jangareddygudem RDO to discuss the issues.

They demanded immediate withdrawal of the cases.

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