Adivasis to intensify stir for Manyaseema

HYDERABAD: Adivasis are gearing up to launch a direct agitation to achieve Manyaseema state. As part of it, they are planning a dharna in front of Parliament in New Delhi on December 20 under the aegis of the Manyaseema Rashtra Sadhana Samithi (MRSS). The MRSS will mobilise over 10,000 tribals from the state for the proposed dharna.MRSS state convener Chanda Lingaiah Dora told reporters here on Wedensday that a separate Manyaseema state was a long pending issue. Tribals have been struggling to realise their dream since 2006. The interests of tribals can be served better in a state of their own, he said. Accused the ruling parties of neglecting tribal development, he said Lambadas living in plains are getting benefited from the schemes being implemented for tribal welfare at the expense of Adivasis, he said.Lingaiah alleged that all political parties were utilising tribals as mere vote banks and ignoring the welfare of Adivasis after elections. "The demand for a separate Manyaseema state is our constitutional right, whereas the separate Telangana state is a political demand," he said.Lingaiah came down heavily on the BJP for 'acting' against the interests of tribals in Andhra Pradesh. Senior BJP leader LK Advani failed to mention their demand for separate Manyaseema state, while underlining the need for creation of separate Telangana state during his recent Rath Yatra, he said.Welcoming the decision of chief minister Mayawati to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states, he demanded that AP also be divided into Manyaseema, Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.