Sand shortage: Naidu stages protest against AP govt

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu staged a protest here on Thursday, alleging that the Y S Jaganmohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government had made a "quid pro quo" deal with the cement industry which has led to an "artificial" shortage of sand in the state.

Naidu demanded a relief of Rs 10,000 per month to all construction workers and Rs 25 lakh compensation for the kin of 42 construction workers who allegedly committed suicide, the party said in a statement.

He also demanded that the YSR Congress Party government restore the free sand policy to save workers associated with the construction sector, it said.

According to the statement, Naidu staged a 12-hour protest in Vijayawada to highlight the plight of over 35 lakh workers of construction and allied fields affected by the shortage of sand.

"Jagan, your thoughts are criminal, your wish is to make money come what may. But you cannot cheat people all the time," Naidu said.

He alleged that Chief Minister Reddy has "entered into a quid pro quo arrangement with cement industry to benefit from artificial sand crisis."