Tension prevailed for some time at the Harith Mixing Plant on Monday as Activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI) tried to storm inside and lay their hands on the fertilizers stored there.
The situation was quickly brought under control by the police who managed to stop the CPI activists from barging in. The activists immediately afterwards staged in front of Harith Fertilisers owned by Kadapa Mayor Ravindranath Reddy at Kesara in Ranga Reddy district.
CPI State Secretary K Narayana, who led the protestors, told media persons that the Kadapa Mayor was responsible for losses incurred by lakhs of farmers since he had allegedly hoarded the fertilizers meant for farmers, for black marketing.
He demanded the immediate arrest of the Kadapa Mayor under various relevant acts.
Mr Narayana questioned as to why Mr Mr Ravindranath Reddy was hiding behind Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy if he was not involved in the hoarding of fertilizers. The CPI leader dared the Kadapa Mayor to face the farmers.
He added that Government has inadvertently helped in the black marketing by giving a free hand to Harith Fertilisers to supply the fertilisers to farmers.
The CPI State Secretary alleged that even Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy was in cahoots with private fertiliser companies and was trying to absolve them of all blame by claiming that there was no fertiliser scarcity.
Mr Narayana also criticised the government for stopping his party activists’ attempts to storm the fertiliser plant. He said that the government was shielding the rich by stopping the attempt of forcible distribution of fertilisers.
Mr Narayana warned that the government will collapse if no action is taken against Mr Ravindranath Reddy.