Ganta is 'Pagaveera', say dumping yard victims

Saradanagar residents term him 'Magadheera'A�; Pro and anti-Ganta rallies taken out in Anakapalli Anakapalli (Visakhapatnam): Massive rallies were taken out in favour of and against Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao here on Monday. While the anti-Ganta rally echoed the anguish of the garbage victims, the other group � Saradanagar Residents' Parirakshana Samithi � backed by Minister and local MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, expressed joy at shifting the dumping yard from the Sarada river bed amid tight security. It may be recalled here that the municipal authorities shifted the garbage to the new dumping yard near Atchiyyapet in Anakapalli mandal amid tight security on March 22. The police had arrested 20 persons in this connection, besides resorting to mild caning to disperse the youth who blocked the road. Later, they registered cases under Sections 341, 353 and 507 (34 read with A) of IPC and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, which are still in force. Irate residents of eight villages, including Atchiyyapet, Sundarayyapet, Mondipalem, Seetanagaram, Sampathpuram, Venkupalem and BRT Colony, took out a rally from Satyanarayanapuram to the Tahasildar office condemning the 'vindictive' attitude of Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao for allegedly instigating groups in a common public issue. The other group, Saradanagar Residents' Parirakshana Samithi, took out a rally from the colony to the municipal office hailing Mr Ganta's action in shifting the dumping yard to the rural area. Tension prevailed for some time when the rallies met at the new bridge. The police acted swiftly and pacified both the groups. While the members of the affected group raised slogans that Ganta is not 'Magadheera' but 'Pagaveerudu' and 'Pagaveera', the other group praised him as 'Magadheera'. Among others, local leaders YN Bhadrajm (CPI), A Balakrishna (CPM), IR Gangadhar from BC Samskshema Sangham, K Kusuma from Visakha Mahila Vedika, members of mass organisations and Yadava Sangham supported the rally of Atchiyyapet dumping yard residents. Condemning the attitude of the police, Revenue and the municipal officials, they questioned why the police arrested 20 persons, including two women, by foisting cases under non-bailable Sections. "Is it wrong to raise their voice opposing shifting of town garbage to rural area? Instead of finding an amicable settlement to the problem, the officials remained mere spectators with the support of Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao," they said. The victims alleged that the local MLA, who took oath at the swearing-in ceremony that he would protect the values of Indian Constitution, had 'instigated' groups of innocent public against one another to get political mileage. They threatened that the people would teach him a fitting lesson at an appropriate time. They asked the Saradanagar Residents' Parirakshana Samithi how far it was justifiable to push their problem on others with the support of political leaders. They demanded the district administration to convene a common meeting at the earliest to settle the sensitive issue. The situation near the new dumping yard was found to be tense. Meanwhile, Human Rights Forum, Forum for Better Visakha and many organisations condemned the arrests and demanded to settle the issue amicably.