The Hindu : Front Page : A.P. poised for 10.37 p.c. growth: Tiwari

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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A.P. poised for 10.37 p.c. growth: Tiwari

Special Correspondent

Telangana Rashtra Samithi members ‘create’ ugly scenes

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Being shown around: Governor N. D. Tiwari and Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy at the Assembly on the opening day of the budget session in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Governor Narayan Datt Tiwari presented a bright picture of the State’s economic health and unveiled a multi-pronged strategy for development in his maiden address to the joint session of the legislature that was marred by an ugly protest by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators here on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh, he said, was poised for a 10.37 per cent annual economic growth rate against the nation’s average of 8.7 per cent in 2007-08. Complimenting the administration for this performance, he said the State had achieved an average annual growth rate of 8.73 per cent for the four year period, including the current year.

Mr. Tiwari’s 100-minute long address was marred by TRS members who held aloft placards showing pictures of AICC president Sonia Gandhi sporting a pink TRS scarf at a rally at Nizamabad in 2004. Some members climbed the benches and chanted slogans accusing the Congress of betraying the people of Telangana. Mr. T. Harish Rao, MLA, tore several copies of the speech and forcefully flung them in Mr. Tiwari’s direction in an enactment of what Congress members did in the Assembly when Dr. C. Rangarajan was delivering the Governor’s address earlier this decade.

Unfazed by their aggression, Mr. Tiwari explained in detail the measures for development as well as for alleviation of poverty through housing, supply of rice at Rs. 2 a kg from the next fiscal and the rural employment scheme. He devoted nearly a fourth of his speech to agriculture and irrigation for which the combined budget is Rs. 13,699 crore this year, an year-on-year growth of 57 per cent since 2003-904.

Amid frequent interruptions by placard–waving TDP members who protested against the “tall claims about the achievements”, Mr. Tiwari announced that his Government would step up physical and social infrastructure to improve the (low) share of manufacturing in the economy. It would set up a university in every district, provide four-lane connectivity to all district headquarters and promote three/four star hotels in all districts.

The Governor referred to a slew of measures for the benefit of Scheduled Castes & Tribes, Backward Classes and the minorities, especially the students. Significantly, he said scholarships would be extended to “all the students of the Kapu community” and to others from economically backward sections.

Sop for Christians

Also, Christians would be given subsidy for religious visits to their holy lands in Israel on the lines of the Haj pilgrim scheme for Muslims. Similarly, the Government would assist in conducting mass marriages for Muslims and Christians from the next fiscal on the lines of `kalyanamasthu’ programme for the Hindus.

Later, Assembly Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy and Finance Minister K. Rosaiah separately condemned the “unruly” action of TRS members. Mr. Reddy said though there was nothing wrong in the members registering their protests, the manner in which they protested was objectionable.

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