The Hindu : Poll promises will be implemented: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Poll promises will be implemented: YSR

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, FEB. 12. The former Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, asserted on Thursday that the party would implement all the electoral promises being made such as free power supply, loans to handicapped, farmers and women at 25 paise interest, if it was voted to power unlike the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which had failed to do so.

Addressing the second regional Panchayat Raj and Nagarpalika sadassu at the municipal stadium here, Dr. Reddy criticised the TDP Government charging it with ignoring the lot of farmers, who committed suicide, and neglecting completion of irrigation projects, agriculture and industrial sectors. He alleged regional bias towards coastal Andhra by paying substantial compensation to damaged coconut trees there, but denying equivalent compensation to the dried-up mango, citrus and sweet lime trees in Rayalaseema due to drought.

Accusing the State Government of usurping powers, funds and rights of local bodies enshrined in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and converting local bodies into nominal entities, he decried the priority being given to nodal officers and Janmabhoomi habitation committees, which were toeing the TDP line. The elected local body representatives were ignored and nominated ones such as mothers committees given undue powers.

Quoting from Mr. Naidu's book, `Plainly Speaking', Dr. Reddy said he eulogised self-help groups at the cost of democratically elected panchayat raj bodies such as the ZPs, mandal parishads and gram panchayats. The Government squandered World Bank funds of Rs. 3,200 crores on Janmabhoomi and Rs. 1,600 crores on short-term measures under `Neeru Meeru', and enriched the TDP functionaries, he alleged.

Nearly Rs. 5,000 crores worth of Food-for-work rice sanctioned by the Centre, on the Supreme Court's directions, failed to reach the deserving in the State, but was `sold away' by the TDP members, he alleged.

Dr. Reddy maintained that the Congress would return to power within three months and would complete irrigation projects in a phased and time-bound manner besides bringing about a sea change in the prevailing conditions for the region's betterment.

He refuted reports in a Telugu daily that he never bothered about farmers' suicides, drought and irrigation projects in the district and sought an apology. The TDP was trying to regain power making false promises and adopting dubious tactics, he alleged and urged people to rout the TDP and restore `Indiramma' rule for safeguarding the interests of the poor, farmers and the downtrodden.

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Andhra Pradesh