The Hindu : PRC a gimmick, says Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Guntur

PRC a gimmick, says Congress

GUNTUR JAN. 6. The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, D. Srinivas, and the former leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, have dubbed the decision to constitute a pay revision commission (PRC) as a political gimmick.

Addressing a public meeting at Gunta Ground here today, the two leaders said the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, was trying to woo the people by announcing pre-election sops. They urged the people not to get carried away by the words of Mr. Naidu, "who never stuck to his promises'' during the earlier polls.

They reiterated the promises the Congress would have on its agenda. The two leaders also at length spoke about the issues raised by the striking junior doctors. The stormy petrel of the party and Khammam MP, Renuka Chowdary, derided the Chief Minister for alleging that the Congress had a nexus with naxalites. She said the bangles of women in the State would become "Vishnu chakrams'' to slash the TDP out of power.

Ms. Chowdary made the people respond to her questions by asking them: "What is our party symbol? Whom are we going to vote for?'' People in unison responded by raising their hands denoting "hand symbol'' for both question.

The public meeting was very impressive. It became very difficult for Congress Seva Dal activists to control the surging crowds. The Rajya Sabha member, Dasari Narayana Rao, had to chide the "over-enthusiastic activists'' and ask them to sit down. Even as he was being greeted with lusty cheers, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy had to appeal to the crowds to maintain silence.

The DCC president, Rayapati Srinivas, had a tough time in urging the people to vacate the dais. A Congress activist from Tenali, Annabathuni Sadasiva Rao, presented a gold-plated conch to the AICC observer, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and a gold-plated sword to Dr. Reddy.

Even as Mr. Azad was posing as though he was blowing it, a mimicry artiste made a sound like a blow from a conch at the mike. People sat throughout even at little past 10 p.m. only to listen to Dr. Reddy. As soon as he completed his speech, they began leaving, despite Mr. Azad commencing his speech.

The APCC secretary, L. Appi Reddy's attempt to garland the former Chief Minister, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy, after the latter's speech was scuttled by leaders.

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