Bodhan: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday demanded that the State Government takeover and revive the Nizam Sugar Factory to save the lives of thousands of factory workers and sugarcane farmers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with other senior leaders, participated in the party’s ‘Maha Padayatra’ demanding revival of Nizam Sugar Factory.
Addressing a massive public meeting at Bodhan later in the evening, he slammed the TRS Government for its failure to revive the Nizam Sugar Factory and other sick industries in the State.
He reminded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, during election campaign, had promised to take over the Nizam Sugar Factory. However, he simply forgot the promise after coming to power, he said.
The TPCC chief also condemned the State Government for being non-responsive to the illegal lockout of three units of Nizam Sugar Factory located at Mambojipally in Medak district, Bodhan in Nizamabad district and Metpally in Karimnagar district on December 23, 2015.
He said that the move has badly hit thousands of factory workers and sugarcane farmers. He said that the government should ensure immediate release of salary arrears of all factory workers.
He also alleged that the factory management has ignored prior agreements with sugar cane farmers and did not release pending arrears.
After the closure of three units, sugarcane farmers were forced to change cropping pattern and no assistance was provided to them by the State Government which cause heavy losses to thousands of farmers.
Others who sold their yield to sugar factories in Maharashtra were not paid transportation charges, he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the crisis in Nizam Sugar Factory were deliberately created and escalated for the reasons known only to the Chief Minister.
He said thousands of factory workers, sugarcane farmers and indirect dependents were left in lurch and were jobless.
The TPCC Chief said that the Congress party would intensify the agitation demanding revival of Nizam Sugar Factory and other sick industries in the State.
He said all the factory workers and farmers had played a major role during Telangana agitation and the TRS Government would not be allowed to deprive them of their due share in the new State.
CLP leader K. Jana Reddy, MLA T. Jeevan Reddy, former ministers Sudarshan Reddy, Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, former Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy, AICC Spokesperson Madhu Yashki Goud and other senior leaders participated in the Maha Padayatra. (INN)