The tragic death of Amaravati farmer Dondapati Rama Rao, who suffered a heart attack during a government meeting, has drawn sharp criticism from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] over alleged neglect by the Union and State governments and the mounting distress of farmers.
CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao demanded immediate government action to address farmers’ grievances and called for the second phase of land pooling to be halted. He emphasised that the first phase should be completed properly to ensure justice for farmers.
He said the State government has been ignoring farmers’ problems despite repeated requests. He noted that even after 11 years, the Amaravati capital issues remain unresolved, and promises made to farmers and the public have not been fulfilled. Farmers have not been allowed to develop their allotted plots, and repeated appeals expressing their concerns have been disregarded.
Mr. Babu Rao criticised the government for pushing the second-phase land pooling without completing the first phase, which has further increased farmers’ distress. He highlighted that even though 60-meter-wide roads already surround Mandadam, officials proposed building a road through the village centre, causing anxiety among farmers who have already surrendered land. Rama Rao had expressed his frustration in front of the Minister regarding the location of plots given for pooling, which are in low-lying areas.
