The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : CLP hails sops for farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

CLP hails sops for farmers

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 19. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Wednesday hailed the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's announcements on free power to the farm sector, waiver of electricity dues, special package for farmers who had committed suicide, scrapping of user charges and completion of pending irrigation projects within five years.

Addressing a press conference, K. R. Suresh Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu, Congress MLA-elect, who spoke on behalf of the CLP, said the sops announced within a few days of coming to power had infused confidence in people that the Congress would keep its election promises listed in the manifesto.

They said it was good augury that as soon as the free power scheme was announced, sections of the State Government employees and Non-Resident Indians (NRI) had come forward to contribute their mite to the programme.

They appealed to farmers not to resort to extreme step as the new Government had made all the arrangements to render whatever help they required. Local village leaders and NGOs should also prevail upon distressed farmers, they said.

They welcomed Dr. Reddy's statement on the Information Technology sector and reassuring the industry that all concessions would continue.

This would remove the misgivings that the Congress Government would shift its focus away from IT.

To a question, they disagreed that Dr. Reddy was taking important decisions even before constituting a full-fledged Cabinet.

They also defended Dr. Reddy rushing to Delhi frequently, saying Congress was a national party and he needed to consult party leaders there.

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