Labour unions oppose auctioning of Azam Jahi Mill lands in Warangal

The auction of Azam Jahi Mill lands in Warangal on Friday triggered high drama as labour unions opposed the Congress government's move, citing violation of a Supreme Court order.

Warangal: The auction of the historic Azam Jahi Mill lands in Warangal on Friday led to high tension as labour unions strongly opposed the Congress government’s decision to auction the mill’s lands.

The workers termed the government’s move to proceed with the auction in defiance of a Supreme Court verdict as unjust. They obstructed the auction of the lands, which was being conducted for 46 plots by Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).

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During the protest chaos ensued when a labour leader Gaddala Sanjeeva climbed a nearby water tank, poured diesel on himself and attempted suicide. Some of the protestors Raghu, Yashoda, and Dasharatham also climbed the tank and raised loud slogans against the government.

This created a highly tense situation at the spot. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the police intervened and tactfully brought them down safely. BJP leader Errabelli Pradeep Rao arrived at the scene to extend his solidarity to the protesting workers.

The leaders demanded that housing plots should be allocated on the mill’s land to around 318 workers who had once depended on the mill for their livelihood and had opted for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS).

Leaders of labour unions made it clear that they would not tolerate any attempts to disregard court orders, deprive workers of their rights and hand over valuable lands to corporate entities. They stated that their struggle would not cease until justice was secured for the workers.

It might be noted that the workers have been protesting for long demanding the allotment of lands to workers in the specific survey numbers in the Lakshmipuram and Khila Warangal areas, as indicated by the High Court and the Supreme Court.