Hyderabad, Sept.9 (RAHNUMA): Former Sarpanches attempting to lay siege to the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday were intercepted and arrested by police while demanding the immediate release of pending funds to Gram Panchayats.
The protestors, led by Telangana Sarpanches Association JAC founding state president Survi Yadaiah Goud, marched from the Assembly Metro Station towards the Assembly building. Police stopped them and took them into custody.
During the arrests, the former Sarpanches sat on the road in protest, briefly creating a tense situation. Yadaiah Goud demanded that the State government immediately discuss and release State Finance Commission (SFC) funds and other pending dues to Gram Panchayats.
He also sought immediate clearance of bills for development works already completed in villages. He said the delay in releasing funds was severely affecting village development and essential services, including sanitation, drinking water supply and street lighting.
Expressing concern over the financial difficulties faced by current and former Sarpanches due to unpaid bills, Yadaiah Goud warned that failure to release the funds immediately would prompt them to mobilise present and former Sarpanches across Telangana for a massive statewide protest.
