The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Women fume over Naidu's `late' arrival

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Women fume over Naidu's `late' arrival

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 10. The organisers of a Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party election meeting addressed by the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the State BJP president, N. Indrasena Reddy, at Ibrahimpatnam on Saturday evening had to face difficult moments after it got delayed by two and half hours with a section of the women, protesting against the late start.

While several women, including some carrying babies in their arms, trooped out, a majority heeded to the pleas of the TDP leaders and stayed back.

It all began when a section of the women mobilised from the nearby mandals and brought to the venue at Ibrahimpatnam around 15.00 hours became restive around 18.30 hours and stood up. Even the cops were seen persuading them to stay put in the area allotted to them, the women complained to the local leaders that they had to return to their homes and cook the food for their families.

Sensing their mood, the local TDP leaders rushed to them and pleaded with them to stay back as the Chief Minister was expected at any time. Meanwhile, the former Minister, Pushpaleela, TDP women's wing president, N. Rajakumari, the TDP nominee, N. Ravi Kumar and the State BJP president, N. Indrasena Reddy, addressed the gathering.

Mr. Naidu and Mr. Indrasena Reddy, urged the people to renew the mandate of the TDP in the State and the NDA-led Vajpayee Government at the Centre for accelerating the development in the country. The Chief Minister claimed that a "wave" in favour of the "cycle symbol" was sweeping the State and the TDP-BJP combine would win all the seats being contested by it. He lashed out at the Communists for pursuing out-dated ideologies and declared that they "will not change till they are defeated". He said the TRS was a sinking ship and also lambasted the Congress.

He said the TDP had rendered social justice to all sections in ticket distribution and had fielded the highest number of women. He assured that 33 per cent reservation for women would be implemented if his party returned to power.

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