Mudapaka farmers accuse Vizag collector of harming Jagan

Visakhapatnam: Dalit farmers from Mudapaka village on Monday accused the Vizag collector and RDO of working against Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

They attacked the office of the Vizag district collectorate, alleging that the collector and RDO are grabbing their lands, which they have been cultivating for years, in the name of land pooling and handing them over to the broker Ramaraj.

The farmers raised slogans and demanded action against the collector and RDO. They told the media that they are ready to give their land as per Jagan’s wishes, but the collector and RDO have not paid them compensation.

A large number of farmers and women staged a sudden dharna at the collector's office premises, scaring the collector's staff. Police entered the protest site and asked the protesters to hold a peaceful protest and leave. However, the protesters remained and continued to protest against the collector and RDO.

Another leader, Neluku Ramesh, said, "Chief Minister Jagan is doing good for the poor Dalits, but district collector Mallikarjuna is doing just the opposite."

The farmers demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter and reminded that the High Court had given a status quo order on Mudapaaka lands.