The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : PJR, Vijayarama Rao against giving ticket to loan defaulters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

PJR, Vijayarama Rao against giving ticket to loan defaulters

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, APRIL 13. When the Congress candidate, P. Janardhan Reddy, and the Minister for Commercial Taxes and Telugu Desam candidate, K. Vijayarama Rao, main contestants involved in the prestigious electoral fight for the largest Assembly constituency of Khairatabad are brought onto a common platform, sparks are bound to fly.

They almost did before order was restored at a public forum organised by the Lok Satta at Motinagar here on Monday. After both the candidates were allowed to make introductory remarks for 10 minutes each, the organisation's moderators, Kodanda Ramarao and Srinivas Rao, started to put questions collected from the sizeable locals gathered there.

A few questions later, the candidates were asked to spell out their stand on whether political parties can give tickets to loan defaulters of bank scams. Even before Mr. Rao could reply, the Congress activists led by its floor leader in the Municipal Council, Mohd. Sharief, and others started shouting and began to rush on to the stage charging that their leader was being given sufficient time to give his replies.

The organisers had a tough time in convincing the partymen to maintain order and the police too jumped in. However, saner counsel prevailed and the debate continued. While Mr. Rao said parties should not give tickets to such people and action should be taken against them. Mr. Reddy too concurred with him. But, he also pointed out that in the first place, action should be taken against banks, which seek to lure depositors promising the moon.

On anti-social elements being admitted into parties, Mr. Rao felt there was no harm in admitting such persons but they cannot be given any posts. On encroachments, both candidates said if any law was violated, it has to be dealt with seriously. About politicians with crime record being barred from contesting, the candidates said they were in favour of removing whatever loopholes were there in the present law.

Another question was on the traffic problem in the area and Mr. Rao said his party had come up with a city development manifesto and a proposal to build a massive flyover was on the anvil besides road widening. Mr. Reddy said he was for the Metro as in Delhi and felt that if proper road and bus connectivity were provided, people would opt for the Multi-mode transport system.

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