CPI leaders (M) protest against the proposed allocation of RTC land near the Lulu Group’s police control room for the construction of a mall in Vijayawad on Sunday. | Photo Credit: KVS Giri
On Sunday, the Indian Communist Party (Marxist) organized a protest against the NDA government plan to assign old LOTC bus land in Vijayawada to the multinational group Lul. The five acre land worth approximately 400 crore is reportedly considered to build a shopping center.
CPI leaders (m) ch. Babu Rao and D. Kashinath led a protest and criticized the government for preferring multinational companies at the expense of local traders and public assets. “It is not a development, it is an economic colonization,” Babu Rao said, warning that this step would destroy thousands of small and medium retailers.
The leaders quoted similar assignments, including 13 acres in Visakhapatnam, as part of the worrying trend of public land transfer to business entities. They accused the government of evicting the poor from the banks and at the same time provided land and concessions to foreign companies. CPM also claimed that the government promotes the privatization of RTC and betrays its responsibility for the protection of public resources. Mr. Kashinath called the decision of unethical and anti-aids.
Several leaders of the district CPI (M) and RTC employees joined the protest. The party undertook to intensify agitation unless the government prevents the proposal of land allocation. The leader of the CPI (M), who called on citizens to unite, urged Vijayawady inhabitants to prevent public property, small businesses and interests of the middle class from the takeover of companies.
Published – 20 July 2025 06:48
