Ex-DGP seeks justice for Karedu land displaced families

Metro India News | ongole

The struggle for justice to the land-displaced families of Karedu will continue until their grievances are addressed, former Director General of Police (DGP) and National Coordinator of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party (AIBSP), Dr J. Purnachandra Rao, IPS (Retd.), said while addressing the “Bahujan Mata – Bahujan Pata” convention in Karedu village of Prakasam district through Zoom on Saturday. He was unable to attend the meeting in person due to ill health.

Dr Purnachandra Rao alleged that political power in Andhra Pradesh remained concentrated in the hands of two dominant castes, leaving hundreds of BC, SC, ST and minority communities—including Yanadis, Erukalas, Chenchus and Kummaris—without meaningful political representation. He said the absence of political empowerment was the principal reason why long-pending land issues such as Karedu, Polavaram, Panchadarla and Yadavalli remained unresolved.

Dr Purnachandra Rao suggested that farmers should retain ownership rights while industries operate on long-term lease arrangements, with legal safeguards ensuring that the land reverts to the original owners if the project is discontinued. Dr Purnachandra Rao called upon Bahujan communities to strengthen the Karedu movement and take the campaign for land rights, political representation and social justice to every village in the State. Drawing a comparison with the Polavaram rehabilitation policy, he said Adivasi families displaced by the project should receive developed and cultivable land on the lines of the rehabilitation package extended to Amaravati farmers

Bakka Paramjyothi, State Coordinator of AIBSP, demanded that the State government allot tank poramboke land to displaced Karedu families and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation package that guarantees sustainable livelihoods. Sangem Surya Rao, Editor of BC Times, said it was deeply disturbing that 124 BC communities in Andhra Pradesh had no representation in the Legislative Assembly, and urged Bahujan organizations to intensify the movement for equitable political representation.