Protests against power tariff hike continue across Telangana

Karimnagar: Protests (Poru Deeksha) by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against power tariff hike continued for the second day in Telangana districts on Monday. Several activists of the party, especially youth, participated in the agitation held at the District Collectorate in Karimnagar. District BJP president Meesa Arjuna Rao, addressing the party activists, has said that the Congress came to power assuring 9-hour uninterrupted and free power to farmers. But, after it came to power, it had failed to provide uninterrupted power supply even for 7-hours. The Government has been imposing power cuts and at the same time, it increased power tariff frequently bringing hardships to all sections of people, he said. He said that the BJP ruled governments in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were able to overcome the power problems. The Congress Government in AP has to learn lessons from the BJP ruled states in solving the power woes, the BJP leader suggested. The Government, as it could not keep its promise, has no moral right to continue. BJP leaders Sridhar, Sasibhushan Kache and several other leaders participated in the stir. Dozens of people, led by leaders of Left parties, staged dharna near the District Collectorate here on Monday protesting against power tariff hike. Leaders from CPI, CPM, CPI-ML (New Democracy), All India Forward Block and MCPI participated in the stir. Senior CPI leader Chada Venkat Reddy and others addressed the agitators. They lashed out at the Government for collecting FSA in power bills and for hiking the power tariff. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has been taking unilateral decisions and bringing problems to people, they said. ``Senior leader V Hanumantha Rao, Union Minister K Chiranjeevi and several other leaders even in Congress opposed the power tariff hike. But, the Chief Minister has been taking decisions without consulting other leaders,'' the CPI leaders regretted. Scores of people, led by TDP district president and Peddapalli MLA Chintakunta Vijayaramana Rao, took out a motorcycle rally from IB Guest House to Transco DE Office at Peddapalli on Monday protesting against the power tariff hike. Adilabad: Many people, led by Left parties � CPI, CPM and CPI-ML � launched one day hunger strike near the District Collectorate here on Monday protesting against power tariff hike.`` The Generation Corporation (Genco) and Trnsmission Corporation (Transco) were in deep losses. In order to save the companies, the State Government hiked the power tariff,'' the Left party leaders have stated. CPM district secretary Bandi Dattathri and others participated in the agitation. Several people, led by CPI and other Left party leaders, staged mass hunger strike at Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) at Mancherial in Adilabad district on Monday protesting against the power tariff hike. CPI district secretary Kalaveni Sankar, addressing the agitators, has said that the State Government has been ignoring the welfare of people. The Government was unable to supply at least 7-hour power supply; but it had increased power tariff by collecting Fuel Surcharge Adjustment (FSA) for previous years. Now, it has decided to hike the power tariff abnormally, he said. New Democracy leader Srinivas, Manga, Lingamurthy and CITU leader Prakash and others participated in the hunger strike. Scores of people from villages expressed their support to the hunger strike launched by BJP leaders condemning the power tariff hike. They organised a motorcycle rally from Ambedkar Chowk to the hunger strike camp. BJP district president Ayyannagari Bhumaiah and others were present. Khammam: A large number of people, led by Left party leaders, launched relay hunger strike in front of District Collectorate here on Monday protesting against the power tariff hike by the Government. Leaders belonging to CPI, CPM and CPI-ML (New Democracy) participated in the agitation. CPM district leader Pothineni Sudarshan, CPI-ML (ND) leader P Ranga Rao and others addressed the agitators. The TDP activists, led by Sattupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, staged demonstrations at Penuballi Ring Centre and Sathupalli Ring Centre protesting against power tariff hike. The Congress Governments were responsible for the present crisis in power, he said. DCCB chairman Muvva Vijayababu and others were present. Nizamabad: Leaders of various parties staged dharna near Dharna Chowk in the town on Monday protesting the power tariff hike. CPI district secretary Yadagiri, CPM town president Murali, CPM district secretary Peddi Venkatramulu, town secretary Dandi Venkat, BJP district president P Ganga Reddy and others participated in the stir. TNGOs district president Gaini Gangaram, JAC district chairman Gopal Sarma and others expressed their support to the agitation.