The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘TDP politicising issues of ryots’

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Monday, Nov 26, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘TDP politicising issues of ryots’

Special Correspondent

CM, Ministers recall party’s negligence of farmers during its tenure

‘Meeting reflects eagerness of the leaders to come back to power’
‘UNPA weakest political front since the era of coalition politics’

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and two ministers on Sunday criticised the Telugu Desam and its partners in the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) for trying to gain political mileage out of farmers’ issues.

Dr. Reddy and Ministers N. Raghuveera Reddy and G. Chinna Reddy objected to the ‘Rythu Garjana’ organised by the TDP, claiming that the leaders concentrated on raising issues that did not concern farmers. They wondered what the leaders, who were rejected by the people for their “anti-farmer” policies, planned to achieve from such meetings.

Interacting with party leaders at his camp office, the Chief Minister recalled “utter negligence” of farmers during the TDP regime that resulted in their present plight. The meeting reflected the “eagerness” of the leaders to come back to power, rather than their keenness in addressing farmers’ issues.

Survey findings

Dr. Reddy said a survey conducted by an independent firm had revealed that 78 per cent farmers did not believe the TDP and that the party was trying to politicise farmers’ issues in its “new farmer-friendly guise”. The TDP’s commitment to farmers was evident from the fact that former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao was not invited to the meeting despite his contributions to the farmers’ cause.

At a separate press conference, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said the UNPA was the weakest political front since the era of coalition politics began in the country.

“Why was the TDP silent on farmers’ issues during its nine-year tenure and three-and-a-half years of the Congress government and why did it not raise the minimum support price of paddy three months ago?” he wondered.

Asserting that “thin attendance” of farmers in the meeting was indicative of their ‘distrust’ towards the TDP, he said people were aware that TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was adept in changing his stance in no time. In a press release, Dr. Chinna Reddy said the TDP’s efforts in shedding ‘crocodile tears’ for farmers would not benefit the party.

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