Implement anti-defection law

TJAC chairman announces agitation programme to highlight people’s problems
He feels that a responsive system of governance is necessary instead of taking decision on whims and fancies of individualas

Hyderabad: Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Chairman Prof M Kodandaram on Sunday urged the Speaker of the Assembly to implement the anti-defection law and uphold the dignity of the Speaker’s office. He was speaking after an extended meeting of
the JAC.

Prof Kodandaram stressed the need to prevent defections from one party to another. Values in politics should be protected. The JAC was ready to launch agitations to highlight the problems of the people. The steering committee of the JAC had decided to stage a sit-in on December 29 demanding implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 with regard to land acquisition for various projects, he added.

Rallies, sit-ins and study tours would be organised in February focusing on problems in educational institutions and the need to create new jobs. Micro-level studies would be held on Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhageeratha in March. In April, the JAC would study issues pertaining to various professions and micro industries.

Releasing a charter of demands, Prof Kodandaram said the government should withdraw the private universities bill, regularise the services of contract employees, announce agriculture policy, and release the dues occasioned by the implementation of pay revision commission recommendations. He demanded the waiver of crop loans at one go and urged the government not to acquire the lands of tribals. The JAC leader wanted full implementation of citizen’s charter in all government offices.

All politicians should be bought under the Lokayuktha Act, Prof Kodandaram said. He sought scrapping of the zonal system and appointment of an expert committee on the zonal system. The JAC was not a political platform and it would continue even if somebody from the JAC became the chief minister, he clarified.

Prof Kodandaram said the governance should be in accordance with the wishes of the people and not on the lines of personal interests of leaders. The TJAC had come up with broad guidelines for the functionaries of the JAC called as ‘Panchaseela’.

According to the Panchaseela, no one should be discriminated on the lines of caste, religion, gender, region and status. All should be treated as fellow human beings. One member should not make light of another. Differences among members should be resolved in a democratic way through discussions. Accountability and responsibility should be maintained in collection of funds, and fund collection should be done in a transparent way. The members of JAC should keep away from liquor. The JAC was of the considered view that money totaling thousands of crores of rupees was being wasted in the construction of power and irrigation projects as they had been designed without a scientific study, Prof Kodandaram said. People were losing lands and the government should review power and irrigation projects. The government should withdraw the amendment bill to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, which had been achieved after a fierce battle.

The JAC has elected a committee under the chairmanship of Prof Kodandaram. It elected N Prahlad, Khaja Mohinuddin, I Purushotham as co-chairmen; P Ravinder, K Raghu as conveners; B Bhikshapathi, DP Reddy, V Sandhya, G Sankar, D Ramesh, Tanvir Sultana as co-conveners; G Venkat Reddy and G Ravinder Rao as official spokespersons; Prabhakar Reddy, VS Mallikarjun, Muthaiah, D Srinivas, Vijendar Reddy and R Prakash as steering committee members.