The struggle for the Bhoodan land victims of Velugumatla has shifted from the streets of Khammam to the state capital, as Telangana Jagruthi President and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha continues her indefinite hunger strike in Hyderabad. The protest began on Monday when Kavitha visited Khammam to support poor families whose homes were recently demolished by the authorities. She held a strong protest at the Ambedkar statue, which led to a tense standoff with the police. Although she was briefly arrested and taken to the Khammam Rural Police Station, she returned to the Ambedkar Bhavan rehabilitation center immediately after her release to start a indefinite hunger strike.
The drama intensified at midnight when the police moved in again, arresting Kavitha for the second time and forcibly shifting her to Hyderabad. Upon reaching the city, she refused to back down and resumed her deeksha (protest fast) at the Jagruthi state office. Speaking to the media, an angry Kavitha slammed the Revanth Reddy government, stating that she was treated like a “terrorist” simply for standing up for the poor. She questioned how a government that speaks about the Constitution could justify displacing families, including students who are currently preparing for their board and degree exams.
Kavitha further alleged that while Bhoodan lands are legally meant for the landless poor, the current administration is trying to clear these areas to hand them over to influential “big people.” She directly challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take note of the situation in Khammam and announced that she would be writing a formal letter to him regarding the injustice. Vowing to take the fight to the next level, she stated that if the government does not rebuild the houses at the original site, she is prepared to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in court to ensure the victims get justice.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
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