The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naidu provoking people on free power: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu provoking people on free power: YSR

By Our Special Correspondent

Villagers interrupting the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's speech at Lopenta in Srikakulam district on Sunday to narrate their woes. Photo: K.R. Deepak

SRIKAKULAM, SEPT. 12. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Sunday charged the Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, with resorting to mudslinging, misleading and provoking innocent public with regard to the Government's free power promise.

Speaking to newsmen at the Government Degree College for Men here, he said, "Mr. Naidu during election campaigning had predicted that if the Congress implemented its free power promise, there will be no electricity to pass through the wires and they will have to be used for drying clothes. To prove his prediction right now, he has hatched a conspiracy to ensure complete collapse of the power structure."

`Hard decisions'

There were as many as 3.5-lakh unauthorised farm connections and power consumption had reached an all time high of 1.6 million units. In this background some "hard decisions" had to be taken.

That is why it was decided to disconnect unauthorised connections where there was a danger of transformers being burnt, but supply would be ensured to protect standing crops, he said,

On the issue of funding of irrigation projects, he said there were several offers to fund irrigation projects. Dr. Reddy reiterated his Government determination to complete all irrigation projects on schedule.

Second SRC

Asked about the dichotomy of statements by the Congress leaders and the TRS and whether the provision in the CMP (Common Minimum Programme) or the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi's decision would be final, he said, "Ms. Sonia Gandhi will only go by the resolution of the CWC (stipulating constitution of second States Reorganisation Committee) and the provision in the CMP. If the TRS leaders now say that the second SRC is not acceptable, it is for the people to decide who is wrong."

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