Koppula Velamas seek priority in political posts

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Koppula Velama Association (APKVA) has demanded that their community be given priority in allotment of political posts by Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The demand came after a state-level meeting of APKVA was held here on Saturday for electing a new executive committee.
APKVA chairman Siva Naidu, while thanking YSR Congress government for establishing a Koppula Velama Corporation, said 20 lakh of people belonging to their community are spread all over the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. He sought that the government release funds to the corporation in accordance with the ratio of their population in state.

Koppula Velama association new president Gunupuri Rama Rao recalled that their community had been included from OC to BC-D category in 1972 due to its backwardness. But inclusion of new communities in BC-D category is harming their interests. He demanded the state government stop including any new communities in the list.

Momentum against guest house sale rising

Meanwhile, opposition against privatisation of government-owned State Guest House spread over 3.26 acres in heart of Vijayawada city is gaining momentum. Communist parties and their associated organisations have already started protests that the iconic place be preserved and developed by the state government itself without resorting to privatisation.

CPM state executive committee member Ch. Babu Rao accused the state government of following the footsteps of BJP-led union government in privatising public properties on one pretext or the other. He asserted that they will oppose such a move by organising agitations. He demanded clarification from endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas Rao and YSRC MLA Malladi Vishnu in this regard.

Another leader D. Kasinath said on one hand, the centre is selling Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. On the other, the state government is selling valuable public property under Mission Build AP. Kasinath and other leaders demanded that the government cancel the proposal to sell the guest house that contained many government offices on its premises.