Kavitha Detained After Vikarabad Protest Against Parigi Corridor Land Acquisition
In a significant escalation of opposition to land acquisition for the Parigi industrial corridor, Telangana Jagruthi leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha was taken into police custody on Wednesday. The protest, staged in front of the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office in Vikarabad, highlighted growing tensions over the government's acquisition of agricultural land from vulnerable farmers.
Allegations of Targeting Marginal Farmers
Kavitha, alongside Dharma Samaj Party president Visharadhan, asserted that the land acquisition disproportionately affects marginal and small farmers in villages such as Kallapur, Rapole, and Bhatla Chandaram. She described the process as leaving these communities in severe distress, accusing the Congress-led state government of exploiting industrial development as a pretext to deprive farmers of their livelihoods.
"This move is unjust and will inevitably lead to public rejection," Kavitha warned, emphasizing that such policies undermine the welfare of agricultural communities.
Scale and Demographics of Land Acquisition
Detailing the scope of the acquisition, Kavitha revealed that out of the proposed 1,250 acres, approximately 1,000 acres consist of assigned lands, while the remaining 250 acres belong to farmers from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC) communities. She criticized the government for allegedly sparing large landowners while targeting these marginalized groups, framing it as a systematic injustice.
Broader Criticisms of Government Policies
Kavitha extended her critique to the Congress party's three-year governance, citing unresolved farmer issues such as:
- Delays in Rythu Bharosa support
- Incomplete loan waivers
- Persistent urea shortages
- Lack of minimum support price (MSP) guarantees
She also questioned environmental contradictions, pointing out the irony between plans to clean the Musi River and proposals to establish polluting industries nearby. "How can we reconcile environmental conservation with industrial pollution?" she asked, highlighting potential ecological risks.
Solidarity and Future Actions
Asserting that injustice against farmers will not be tolerated, Kavitha declared that Telangana Jagruthi and the Dharma Samaj Party will stand firmly with affected communities wherever similar issues arise. Following the protest, she was shifted to Bantaram police station, underscoring the ongoing confrontation between activists and authorities.
Warning on Delimitation and Political Representation
In a related development, Kavitha issued a strong warning to the NDA government regarding the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. She alleged that using population as the sole criterion for representation is a deliberate attempt to weaken southern states like Telangana.
"States that have made strides in population control and economic development should not be penalized with reduced political representation," she argued, noting that Telangana's current parliamentary representation stands at only 3.13%.
Kavitha cautioned that such measures could undermine democratic principles and lead to serious consequences, emphasizing the need for fair and equitable political processes. The protest and subsequent detention mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over land rights, industrial development, and regional representation in Telangana.
