CPI leader rebukes AIYF activists for staging protest in his area in Kothagudem
A CPI leader allegedly reprimanded AIYF activists protesting over an alleged food safety lapse at a government school in Kothagudem. The youth wing claimed to have found a dead lizard in a water tank allegedly used for cooking rice
Kothagudem: In a rather unusual incident, a CPI leader allegedly reprimanded activists of his own party’s youth wing for staging a protest at a government school over alleged lapses in the preparation of the mid-day meal.
All India Youth Federation (AIYF) activists launched a programme, ‘School Bachao’, and inspected government schools at mandal headquarters to identify issues being faced by students.
As part of the programme, AIYF district president Faheem and others visited the Government High School at Babu Camp in Kothagudem on Monday. While inspecting the kitchen, they allegedly found a dead lizard in a plastic water tank, the water from which was being used to cook rice.
The youth wing activists then staged a protest in front of the school, placing the rice pot at the protest site. CPI district council member Durgarasi Venkanna, who lives in the Babu Camp area, arrived at the spot and expressed anger at the activists for staging the protest at the school.
He allegedly asked them to leave the school premises immediately and warned them against staging protests “in his area”.
The CPI leader further allegedly told the local student activists not to take part in any protest without his knowledge, even if they were instructed to do so by the local MLA or any other leader. He also allegedly yelled at the 27th Division corporator, M Haritha of the CPI, for taking part in the AIYF protest.
Speaking to Telangana Today, Faheem said their visit to the school had averted a possible case of food poisoning and prevented students from falling ill, as rice was allegedly being cooked using water contaminated by the dead lizard.
Referring to Venkanna’s demeanour during the protest, the AIYF leader said the matter had been brought to the notice of the CPI State committee and that local MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao would also be apprised of the incident.
He further alleged that the CPI leader misbehaved with media persons when they objected to his alleged abusive behaviour towards the activists.
