HYDERABAD: Top Maoist leaders may have laid down their arms in the past few months, but they have not surrendered their political instinct.Many of them are looking forward to becoming full-time politicians and even want the ban on the CPI (Maoist) party lifted so that they can organise themselves under its banner.Former central committee member Devji alias Tippiri Tirupati among other surrendered Maoists have urged the Telangana director general of police, CV Anand, to allow them to engage in unrestricted political activity.In a representation submitted on Aug 10 during a closed-door meeting with the police chief, they also reiterated their earlier demand for lifting the ban on the CPI (Maoist).At present, the surrendered Maoists are confined to their private lives and stay away from political activity, sources said.”We want the police to give us an opportunity to participate in legally permissible activities, without any hurdles,” Devji told TOI.He along with other senior ex-Maoists were present during the August 10 meeting.
Guns to politics
CM: Silo bag facilities to be managed by SHGs
On the recurring difficulties in storing paddy stocks each season, the CM instructed officials to formulate an action plan immediately.A pilot project for constructing silo bags or silo storage facilities would be taken up in districts with high paddy yields, such as Nalgonda, Suryapet, Nizamabad, Peddapalli and Kamareddy.The CM also announced that 50-100 acres of land per constituency would be allocated for setting up silo bag facilities, to be managed by women’s self-help groups (SHGs).A meeting would be convened with the ministers of revenue, civil supplies and women’s welfare to discuss the construction of these facilities.The CM suggested exploring the possibility of constructing spacious platforms under the VB G Ram G scheme and using German tents for paddy storage in the available space.Officials were also instructed to identify private warehouses, function halls and other sheds at the mandal and village levels in advance and lease them for paddy storage.
