The CPI (M) on Saturday condemned the killing of four persons in police firing in Khammam town of Andhra Pradesh and said that the party would continue its struggle for land against the Congress government in the state.
Party general secretary, Prakash Karat, told Hindustan Times from Bangalore that the CPI (M) and other Left parties and trade unions would continue to fight for the rights of the poor in the state in spite of police brutality.
"We will continue to fight the Congress Government (in Andhra Pradesh). The struggle has been going on for three months now and there will be no compromise on the issue,’’ Karat said.
A CPI (M) politburo statement said that for three months now, Left parties have been demanding house sites and land for the poor. "The struggle entered a new phase on July 22 with the indefinite hunger strike launched by leaders of the CPI (M) and CPI," the politburo said.
The Party alleged that instead of discussing and settling the issues, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh attacked the agitators. "Hundreds were seriously injured in police lathicharges in different parts of the state and thousands were sent to jail. Leaders including BV Raghavulu, member of the CPI (M) politburo and P Madhu, member of the CPI (M) Central Committee who were on indefinite hunger strike were forcibly arrested at midnight on Friday,’’ the politburo said.
{{/usCountry}}The Party alleged that instead of discussing and settling the issues, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh attacked the agitators. "Hundreds were seriously injured in police lathicharges in different parts of the state and thousands were sent to jail. Leaders including BV Raghavulu, member of the CPI (M) politburo and P Madhu, member of the CPI (M) Central Committee who were on indefinite hunger strike were forcibly arrested at midnight on Friday,’’ the politburo said.
{{/usCountry}}Following the police action on Saturday, the CPI (M) demanded that firm action be taken against the police officers responsible for the killings.
The CPI’s trade union arm All India Trade Union Congress has also demanded punishment for the police officers for unprovoked police firing and the immediate release of the Left workers and member from jail.