The Hindu : Front Page : YSR, Naidu, Chiru share dais

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Monday, Dec 08, 2008
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YSR, Naidu, Chiru share dais

First anniversary celebrations of Telugu daily ‘Surya’

–Photo: Nagara Gopal

Rare sight: Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi, Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu at the first anniversary celebrations of ‘Surya’ Telugu daily in Hyderabad on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: The first anniversary celebrations of a vernacular daily on Sunday saw Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi sharing a common dais for the first time and chanting the social justice slogan. At the function organised by the Telugu newspaper, ‘Surya’, the presence of top leaders of various parties raised curiosity among the audience. Dr. Reddy reached the venue at 11.50 a.m followed by the PR chief and Mr. Naidu.

The audience eagerly waited to watch every move of the ‘star politicians’. Soon after reaching the venue, Mr. Chiranjeevi greeted the Chief Minister and other dignitaries with folded hands but hugged Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav.

No interaction

A little later, Mr. Naidu arrived and exchanged pleasantries with everyone. As the crowd whistled and made cat calls, Mr. Chiranjeevi waved to them. But the three leaders avoided speaking to each other on the dais.

Addressing the gathering, the leaders asserted that they were committed to give more seats to Backward Classes and other downtrodden sections in the next elections. Dr. Reddy said his government was credited with doing a lot for the downtrodden. Mr. Naidu said it was TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao who brought self-respect for these classes. He said it was the TDP which had announced 100 party tickets for BCs in the coming Assembly elections and took a dig at the Congress for not emulating it.

Problems aplenty

Mr. Chiranjeevi observed that parties pursuing social justice plank faced a lot of problems. It was a challenge to take up the cause of the poor. Lok Satta Party president N. Jayaprakash Narayan decried the use of money power and family rule in politics.

Nava Telangana Party president T. Devender Goud, former BJP national president Bangaru Laxman, V. Hanumantha Rao, MP, Mala Mahanadu chief J. Prabhakar Rao and AP BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah vowed to fight for cause of the downtrodden. Editor of ‘Surya’ Nookarapu Suryaprakash Rao, Telugu Mahila president Roja and others spoke.

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