The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : People accord rousing reception to Naidu

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

People accord rousing reception to Naidu

B. Madhu Gopal

YSR’s men behind the proposed alumina refinery, he says

He promises support to those facing threat from proposed alumina refinery
Opposes acquisition of fertile lands for SEZs

Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Roadshow: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu with former ministers – Ch. Ayyannapatrudu, Bandaru Satyanarayana Murty and Pappala Chalapathi Rao – riding a bullock-cart at Makavaripalem in Visakhapatnam district during the ‘Yeruvaka’ programme on Thursday. —

MAKAVARAPALEM (VISAKHAPATNAM district): Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu was accorded a rousing reception when he arrived here as part of his ‘Yeruvaka’ programme on Thursday evening.

Earlier, the former Chief Minister caught the attention of the people when he rode a bullock cart from Tamaram junction to Makavarapalem junction.

The convoy was stopped in the middle of the main road and he addressed a public meeting from atop the van.

‘Eyewash’

Referring to the proposed establishment of an alumina refinery in the mandal, he dubbed the talk of a Ras Al Khaima company setting up the plant “an eyewash” and alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s men were behind the project. He asked the public: “Did the government call for tenders?”

He continued after a pause: “They didn’t,” and added that the TDP was with the affected villagers and wouldn’t allow their lands to be acquired, amidst cheers from the crowd.

Mr. Naidu alleged that fertile lands were being acquired by the State Government for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in violation of the Centre’s directive.

He wanted the Congress Government to buy land in the open market if setting up industries was the purpose. He alleged that lands being acquired for SEZs were being converted into real estate.

Narsipatnam MLA Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu spoke of the development works done in the constituency during the Telugu Desam rule.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu visited the Thandava reservoir and later the huts of Relli community.

He visited the Social Welfare hostels at Payakaraopeta and Nakkapalli and distributed bed sheets to the inmates.

Impromptu meet

Though the response was lukewarm at Nakkapalli, the road-show attracted good crowds at almost all places from Ramachandrapuram junction of Kotauratla mandal.

Buoyed by the impressive crowds, he climbed atop the van and addressed impromptu meeting at various villages right on the road.

He addressed meetings at Chouduvada and G. Koduru. At all the meetings, he launched a tirade against the Congress Government and its “misrule” and highlighted the achievements of his party when it was in power.

Showers sops

Mr. Naidu promised revival of the Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme, supply of free power to poor farmers nine hours a day and provision of loans to small farmers at a nominal rate of interest.

Senior party leaders Kala Venkata Rao and Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy were among those who accompanied the Telugu Desam president.

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