The Hindu : Be wary of TDP's promises, women told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Be wary of TDP's promises, women told

By Our Special Correspondent

JAGGAYYAPET, FEB.7. The former Congress Legislature Party leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday cautioned women against falling prey to allurements of the Telugu Desam Party as the sops being announced were only aimed at getting mileage in the elections.

Addressing an impressive gathering of DWCRA women at a meeting convened by the DWCRA coordination committee here, Dr. Reddy recalled that the TDP president and Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had made several promises during the previous elections too, but none was implemented. He pointed out that schemes like Rs 2-a-kg rice, total prohibition and others were diluted after Mr.Naidu took over.

He said the Congress was committed to empowerment of women and would initiate a series of programmes for their welfare if the party was voted back to power. Steps like ban on belt shops, 25 per cent rebate in registration fee for properties registered in the name of women, enhancement of old-age pension and free power to households with single bulbs would be implemented when the Congress took the reins, he said.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary, B. V. Raghavaulu, said the ruling party had mortgaged the self-respect of Telugu people to the World Bank. The Government which refused to concede demand for ration cards to eligible persons was doling out sops for electoral gain. "The people should exercise utmost caution when they cast their votes,'' he said.

The Jaggayyapet MLA in the dissolved Assembly, S Udaya Bhanu, presided over the meeting. The Congress leader, P. Upendra, spoke.

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