HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has advised Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to convert the State into a role model for others in strengthening the rural economy.

Mr. Singh, who was here to take part in a number of programmes during his short stay of four hours on Sunday, allayed the apprehensions of the State Government over the delay in securing Central clearance for pending projects.

He discussed with the Chief Minister twice about the developmental agenda, while going to Medak district to distribute pattas to the landless poor and again on his way back to Hyderabad.

Rural economy

Dr. Reddy later told The Hindu that the Prime Minister was particularly happy at the prospects of the rural economy scaling new heights with the proposed interlinking of Godavari and Krishna rivers.

When told by the Chief Minister that completion of pending and new irrigation projects would increase the ayacut by another 65 lakh acres, the Prime Minister observed that it would increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) significantly.

Asked whether the Prime Minister gave any assurance on the demand for Rs.25, 000-crore package sought by the Government, he said

Dr. Singh promised to "extend every possible cooperation" in making the Government fulfil its poll promises.

The Prime Minister remarked that interlinking of rivers was a subject dear to his heart and the proposal for Krishna and Godavari basins could become panacea for several ills dogging the State.

Remarks against naxals

The clear message sent by the Prime Minister to the left wing extremists that they should prefer democracy and not violence, was yet another heartening development for the State Government which had recently banned the CPI (Maoist) and seven other organisations.

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