SRIKAKULAM: Amid huge gathering of leaders and activists of Left and Telugu Desam parties, tribals of Seetampeta and Kotturu on Monday kick-started a 65-km padayatra from Kannedhara hill demanding cancellation of mining lease to Virgin Rock Private Limited (VRPL) in the hill. Puliputti sarpanch K Mukhalingam, accompanied by about 400 tribals and political leaders, performed a special puja to local deity Mukkidi Polamma at the hill before starting the padayatra. “Before we come out with bow and arrows in protest, it is our final attempt to convince the state government in the form of padayatra to quash the mining lease,” Mukhalingam told newsmen.Many tribal women volunteered to take part in the yatra, he said. The protesters were accorded a warm response from the public with many joining the tribals to express their solidarity. As many as 96 tribals including 14 women are participating in the padayatra which will continue for three days with an overnight halt at LN Peta mandal headquarters before reaching the final destination of Srikakulam, where tribals will seek justice from Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Besides 96 protesters who will continue the yatra till Srikakulam, about 250 tribals will join the yatra in relay pattern while a special cultural team has been given responsibility to sing songs on tribal’s life and the destruction of their livelihood during the yatra. On the occasion, TDP politburo member K Yerrannaidu accompanied by CPM district secretary CH Tejeswara Rao.“When Kanimozhi and Suresh Kalmadi were jailedfor their involvement in scams, D Prasada Rao should think about his future for abusing his power in the Kannedhara issue,” said Yerranaidu.
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