Backwardness: YSR joins issue with Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 29. The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, has joined issue with the Chief Minister, Mr.N.Chandrababu Naidu, on the neglect of the backward areas in the State, which gave rise to the demand for separate Statehood.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Dr.Reddy contended that it was ridiculous on the part of the TDP, which ruled the State for more than 13 years of the last 18-odd years, to blame the Congress for the persisting problems in Telangana and other backward areas.

Listing out the ``failures'' of the Chandrababu Naidu government, Dr.Reddy said the unprecedented crisis faced by the farming community leading to countless suicides ``is the handiwork of the present government.''

Parliament was informed that out of 480 farmers who committed suicide all over India last year, Andhra Pradesh accounted for 385 deaths. Due to the nexus between the millers and the Government, farmers were forced into distress sale of their produce. Middlemen took control of the market yards. The Government threatened to jail the exploiting millers, ``but not a single trader was punished.''

He deplored the ``audacity'' of Mr.Chandrababu Naidu to cite the signing of the WTO agreement by the Congress Government as the source of all the trouble faced by farmers, ``after singing paens for World Bank and WTO all these years.'' Dr.Reddy said the Chief Minister was now pleading for additional subsidies to the farming community with an eye on Panchayat elections. ``What did his Government do when the NDA Government, supported by his party, raised fertiliser price twice in a year?'' Dr.Reddy asked.

Dr.Reddy also ridiculed the TDP's demand that the Central schemes be scrapped and the funds made over to the State.

The CLP leader justified the ``campaign'' of his party MLAs against the injustice done to Telangana and accused the Chief Minister of ``gagging the voice'' of the TDP legislators and MPs from the region who are equally concerned about the problems of their areas.

Dr.Reddy refuted the charge that the Congress was indulging in doublespeak on Pulichintala project. The genuine fears of the people about submersion of their lands needed to be attended.

Dr.Reddy released a booklet on the plight of the farmer, brought out by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

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Section  : Southern States
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