Farmers Protest: Telugu Farmers, Trade Union Leaders Protest in Front of Collectorate Offices

Hyderabad: On Thursday and Friday (January 7 and 8), farmers along with trade unions in Telugu speaking states gheraoed collectorate offices across the two states demanding the repeal of the new farm laws terming them as ‘Nalla Chattalu’ or ‘Black Laws’. Intensifying the nationwide farmers’ movement, the farmers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are seeing increasing support from different unions and common people as protest sites are growing.

On Thursday, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) president Hemalatha along with state president Ch Narasinga Rao and other workers’ and farmers’ leaders were detained by the police during ‘Collectorate gherao’ protest in Visakhapatnam city. Farmers were arrested in Prakasam, Krishna, Kurnool and Chittoor district Collectorates. Massive rallies were held across all district headquarters in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

“On January 4, Vijayawada town witnessed a historic rally and public meeting demanding the repeal of the farm laws. Massive protest demonstrations have followed the increase in protest sites across regions in Andhra,” said Y Kesav Rao, president of Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham. 

According to farmers’ organisations, ‘Rasta Rokos (road blockade)’ were held at numerous centres across Srikakulam, Kurnool, Nellore and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. In Kurnool’s Nandyal town, farmers organised a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest on Friday. Similar protest demonstrations were held in Vizianagaram, Guntur and Tirupati towns. 

Addressing a public gathering in Jangareddygudem of Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari District, V Srinivasarao of Tenant Farmers’ organisation gave call to “burn the farm laws’ on Bhogi festival. 

Meanwhile, from January 1, the Telangana Rythu Sangam has begun a ‘Bus Jatha’, a statewide tour of farmers and cultural activists to visit and join protests in all districts. “The Bus Jatha has covered several districts and is meeting farmers in remote parts of the state. The united opposition to the farm laws and corporatisation of agriculture is being reflected in the solidarity the farmers are receiving,” said T Sagar of Telangana State president. 

There was a minor hurdle in the Jatha when on January 4, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members blocked the Bus Jatha’ in Shankarpalli of Medak district in Telangana. 

On Friday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress party leaders joined ‘Rast Roko’ in different centres in Khammam. In Yalala and Parigi mandals of Vikarabad district in Telangana, Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi leaders joined farmers’ protests in front of Tahsildar offices there. Protest demonstrations continued across Tahsildar offices and Municipal administration offices across Nizamabad, Siricilla, Nalgonda and Warangal districts.

Also read: Farmers’ Movement Spreads to Over 300 Protest Sites in Telugu States

Earlier, farmers in both the states held protest demonstrations in front of Reliance and Jio Shopping marts opposing corporatisation of agriculture. 

Civil society organisations, teachers, poets and opposition political parties in both the states have also joined the farmers, agriculture workers and tenant farmers in their protests.