The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP stages walkout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP stages walkout

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 15. The Telugu Desam Party walked out during question hour in the Assembly on Tuesday protesting against the Government's alleged failure to implement the pre-election promise of enhancing old-age and widow pensions from Rs. 75 to Rs. 225.

Intervening before and after the TDP walkout, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, assured the House that every election promise made by the Congress would be implemented in toto. Agreeing that the party had promised to enhance the pension amount to Rs. 225 prior to elections, he said the Government would implement the scheme in phases in view of financial constraints.

Earlier, the Rural Development Minister, D. Srinivas, told P. Ranganayakulu (TDP) that the Government had decided to enhance the old- age and widow pension amount from Rs. 75 to Rs. 100 from April 1. He said the ruling party was anguished that it was not able to give the promised Rs. 225. However, the Government was committed and would implement it in a phased manner.

`Promises fulfilled'

The Chief Minister said all promises, including construction of 40 lakh houses for the poor, and providing irrigation to an additional 65 lakh acres in the next five years, would be fulfilled. The Government was providing free power to 93 per cent farmers and only 7 per cent who did not want it were exempted.

He charged the TDP with taking up the cause of big farmers and asked it to refrain from doing so, triggering protest from the TDP benches.

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