Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the President of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP,) on the 14th of November, began a 12 hour ‘deeksha’ at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
After the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) did not resolve the sand shortage issue, the opposition, the TDP, called for a strike and protested against the YSRCP.
The sand shortage issue has become a matter of criticism and discussion in Andhra Pradesh. Approximately 19.6 lakh construction workers are unemployed due to the sand crisis. As many as 40 labourers committed suicide in the past 5 months.
The TDP held the YSRCP responsible for the death of the workers and asked for a compensation of Rs. 25 lakhs to the families of the workers. Chandrababu Naidu also demanded monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,000 be provided to the families until the matter is resolved.
Another major demand of the TDP for the workers is free supply of sand to save the workers of the construction sector.
In view of the sand crisis affecting the workers, Chandrababu Naidu decided to observe a one day deeksha against the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy led YSRCP.
However, the YSRCP denied the allegations and said Chandrababu Naidu is trying to politicise the matter for attention. K. Parthasarathy, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the YSRCP, asked Mr. Naidu to prove the allegations and if he fails to do so, Parthasarathy would call for a protest against Naidu and his TDP.
TDP leaders, workers and activists are also going to take part in Chandrababu Naidu’s day long deeksha.
Stay tuned for further updates.
