Telangana BJP head Bandi Sanjay Kumar today slammed the TRS government over the issue of the provision of pattas for the podu lands belonging to the state's tribals, and alleged that the government had made a habit of "neglecting" the STs through the year, and "shedding crocodile tears" for them during any elections.
Speaking to the media at the party's headquarters after paying tributes to a portrait of the famed tribal leader Jatothu Tanu Naik on the occasion of his death anniversary, he said that the fight of Tanu Naik against the Razakars had inspired several people in the state in the past, and would serve as a lesson to those wanting to challenge the "unjust" rule of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao whose reign too had begun to resemble that of the razakars.
"The CM is no better than an exploitative landowner. Instead of resolving the problems being faced by the owners of podu lands, his government is mercilessly evacuating tribal people from the land they have tilled for generations. We will take forward the fight started by Tanu Naik for tribal rights, and will not till the tribals in the state get justice," he charged.
Kumar added that it was shameful that ST the community was being forced to fight for their property rights even after the creation of a state that had promised them a secure and bright future.
BJP state general secretary Bangaru Shruthi and the party's ST Morcha head Hussain Naik were among the other leaders who participated in the program.
The STs in Telangana have been demanding that the government issue pattas for their lands for some time now. Their struggle has found support not only in the BJP but also in leader
Y S Sharmila and
the Congress.