Pawan assures justice to Settipalli farmers

Tirupati: Jana Sena Party founder president Pawan Kalyan called upon Settipalli farmers to fight against the government to get back their rights on land near Tirupati.

Addressing the farmers in Settipalli on Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan expressed his party support to farmers and assured that he will be with them till they get justice.

In this connection, he flayed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for not keeping the promise he made to Settipalli farmers in 2014 election that he would give their if his party comes to power.

He vociferously demanded the government to give up the proposal to acquire the famers lands in Settipalli or else his party would intensify the stir. He also said the much-publicised loan waiver scheme failed to provide succour to farmers as the monetary relief provided by the government is far from relieving their debt burden.

Stating that lack of humane approach on the part of government was the main reason for the woes of farmers, Pawan said the government was only keen on rolling out red carpet from Amaravati to Settipali to corporates to avail thousands of crores benefits from the government leaving the needy and poor into lurch.

He wondered why the government only targeting poor famers lands for acquisition and said there is unrest in rural areas mainly due to government snatching farmers lands in the name of development.

Braving scorching sun, JSP activists, Pawan followers and people from Tirupati and surrounding areas gathered in Settipalli to the Pawan meeting while many fell sick unable bear the searing heat.

The actor-turned-politician winded up his five-day visit to Chittoor district on Wednesday and left for Hyderabad. It may be noted that controversy raged following the government move to take over about 500-acre land in Settipalli near Tirupati under land pooling.

While the 150 farmers seek regularisation of 250 acres of land under their possession while more than 3000 people who purchased the lands measuring about 250 acres also demanded to regularise them.

Interestingly, the government regularised the lands under the enjoyment of farmers in Pydipalli in Tirupati rural but failed to do so in the case of Settipalli farmers.

Pawan shocked over boat capsize

Pawan Kalyan also expressed his deep shock on the sinking of boat in Godavari river in Devipatnam mandal which claimed 22 lives. He said that the government failed to learn lessons despite such tragedies happening.

It is the bounden duty of the government to see full-proof safety measures are in place in all tourist boats cruising in rivers, he averred.