BCY announces 'Chalo Mallayyakkonda' protest against proposed mining in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya

VIJAYAWADA: The Bharatha Chaitanya Yuvajana Party (BCY) has announced a movement against the proposed mining activities at the historic Mallayyakkonda hill in Thamballapalle constituency of Annamayya district, alleging that the project is against the sentiments of lakhs of devotees and the wishes of local people.Speaking to media here on Monday, BCY chief Bode Ramachandra Yadav said they would organise a “Chalo Mallayyakkonda” programme on July 8 to protect the hill shrine and oppose the govt’s decision to permit mining activities in the region.Mallayyakkonda, a prominent Shaiva pilgrimage centre in Rayalaseema, holds immense religious significance after major temples such as Srisailam and Srikalahasti temples, Yadav said.He warned that any attempt to disturb the sacred hill in the name of iron ore mining would face strong opposition from devotees.He demanded immediate withdrawal of the govt order issued for mining activities in the Mallayyakkonda hill range, which includes Sadukonda and other surrounding hill areas.It said the mining proposal would affect the ecological balance and religious importance of the region.BCY chief said the Mallayyakkonda reserve forest spreads across around 6,700 hectares and alleged that 1,550 hectares in the Sadukonda and Chinnarukonda areas had already been allotted for mining activities to the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation.

Yadav demanded that the mining licence issued for the area be cancelled immediately and said it would intensify the agitation across the state if the decision was not reversed.He said that party activists, along with Shiva devotees, would participate in the Mallayyakkonda protection movement on July 8.They appealed to people who value the religious and environmental importance of the hill to join the protest.Ramachandra Yadav also targeted chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, stating that he had earlier opposed mining activities in Sadukonda when he was in opposition, but had now supported the proposal after becoming chief minister.The BCY chief also questioned the silence of deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, alleging that while he frequently speaks about protecting Sanatana Dharma and Hindu traditions, he was not responding to the proposed mining activities near the revered Mallayyakkonda shrine.Yadav said they would continue their campaign to protect Mallayyakkonda with the support of devotees and local communities.