The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : TRS stalling development, alleges YSR

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TRS stalling development, alleges YSR

‘Poll code has come in the way with Telangana Rashtra Samiti forcing elections’

- Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Time to celebrate: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is all smiles at a meet-the-press programme in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: By forcing elections once again, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti has stalled the entire development in the region, except in Khammam district, said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, as the model code of conduct had come in the way.

People of the region were deprived of numerous welfare schemes for no fault of theirs.

Participating in a Meet-The-Press programme organised by the AP Union of Working Journalists here on Tuesday, Dr. Reddy rejected the TRS’ suggestion that the election was a referendum to the Telangana sentiment.

He asserted that the Congress had never said that there was no sentiment.

The question of referendum, as the term denoted, would arise when there was a difference of opinion on a given issue. In this case, the Congress always acknowledged the sentiment.

Dr. Reddy said that the Congress was confident that the people would appreciate the good work done by the government and give their verdict in its favour.

Key components

“Credibility, courage and compassion are the three key components that any government has to follow to fulfil the promises made to the people,” Dr. Reddy said.

The Congress government, which completed four years in power on Tuesday, could proudly boast of fulfilling all its poll promises and introducing new schemes that were not part of the election manifesto.

Subsidised rice scheme, Arogyasri and systematising the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund were among the schemes that touched the hearts of the people.

Breaking into a loud laughter, Dr. Reddy asked a journalist, in response to a query, if the latter found at least one reason to cheer about during the TDP regime.

Probes

On the charges of large-scale corruption in the Congress regime, he said:

“Whenever allegations are made, we have ordered probes. Why couldn’t they prove the charges? Who will take them seriously when they fail to prove the allegations, but go on levelling charges?”

There was no comparison between his padayatra in 2003 and the ‘Mee Kosam’ tour launched by Mr. Naidu.

There were no issues for the TDP to highlight now while he walked across the State when it was reeling under severe drought – “not even drought, it was a famine”.

He went on to quip: “I had walked. Of course, I don’t mind even though Mr. Naidu is moving in air-conditioned bus.”

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