Protection sought for workers at the temporary Secretariat

AMARAVATI: The CPM and its associated organisations demanded protection to the workers at temporary Secretariat at Velagapudi and compensation to four injured workers. A team led by CPM capital area committee convener Ch. Babu Rao came to Velagapudi demanding compensation to injured workers but the police did not allow them and took them into custody. The CPM warned about launching protests if the government fails to provide protection to the workers.

Four workers namely Ramcharan, Dharmendra Rao, Kishore Chowdary and Jayaram were injured when a parapet wall of the block one, in which CM office is proposed, suddenly collapsed on Monday night. The workers sustained injuries and were admitted to NRI Hospital at Mangalagiri. The contractors Shaporeji and Pallonji defended the collapse of the under-construction parapet wall due to heavy wind, but there were allegations about hurried construction as the cause of collapse.

The Communists led by Mr Babu Rao rushed to the temporary Secretariat and tried to enter the premises to meet contractors. But the police did not allow them. So, the Communists staged a protest by showing placards demanding '10 lakh compensation to each injured, improvement of basic amenities and strict security measures at workplaces to protect workers. Mr Babu Rao alleged that earlier, two workers died due to collapse of machinery and now the parapet wall collapsed reflecting the poor security measures. He alleged that the police were throwing the security norms to air arresting the leaders, which is severely objectionable and demanded action against the contractors. The police arrested Mr Babu Rao and other leaders and shifted them to Old Amaravati police station.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress MLA of Mangalagiri Alla Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that it seems the government was killing workers for Narabali (human sacrifice) rituals and demanded protection to the workers at the Secretariat.