Adding salt to injury

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh finds itself stifled as unrest among farmers – over forcible acquisition of lands and the administration's failure to supply fertilizers this season – is mounting. Now, the weavers' deaths have left the government totally beleaguered. Seizing the opportunity, opposition parties in the state are adding salt to the injury by upping their ante against the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy administration, espousing the cause of the distressed farmers and weavers. At least six weavers in Sircilla region of Karimnagar district died in the last one week. Three of the six had committed suicide, while others were reportedly starvation deaths. At a time when it is battling hard to pacify the restive farmers, the growing deaths of weavers have come as a rude shock to the state government. All claims of Rajasekhara Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues over the series of measures being implemented for the welfare of weavers proved hollow. Only last week, the Congress government claimed to have extended a relief package of Rs 1.5 lakh each to families of weavers who either committed suicide or died of starvation over the past few years. "We have provided housing and also set up a textile park in the region to improve their working conditions and ensure better livelihood," the government claimed, as a reaction to Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi's visit to Sircilla. Besides, a loan waiver scheme for weavers was also under consideration, it said. As if calling the government's bluff, three weavers ended their lives on Saturday. "What is the government's answer to this," Chiranjeevi questioned even as three state ministers rushed to Sircilla to console the victims' families. The Congress party announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 each to the kin of deceased besides promising Rs one lakh per family towards the education of children. The Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust too paid Rs 25,000 to each family while the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the CPI offered Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 per family respectively. Chiranjeevi said rather than tall claims, the government should come out with measures that provide a permanent solution to the weavers' plight. "The Rajasekhara Reddy government is under the illusion that there is no anti-incumbency. But it is a strong undercurrent, the shocks of which will be felt in the ensuing election," leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu has warned.