The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR refutes TDP’s corruption charges

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Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR refutes TDP’s corruption charges

Special Correspondent

Accuses TDP of neglecting farmers, irrigation projects during its nine-year rule

State giving best rehabilitation package in Polavaram, Mid Manair, Veligallu: Ponnala
The 45 ongoing projects will provide 100 tmcft of drinking water to 250 villages

VELIGALLU (KADAPA DT.): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy lambasted Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday and accused him of failing to develop irrigation projects and ensure welfare of farmers and other sections during his nine-year rule, but was promising everything ‘free’ to people now.

Mr. Naidu, who failed to take up any project and dubbed agriculture as a wasteful avocation, without trying to tap the Krishna and Godavari water going waste into the sea, has no right to seek the vote of people, he said at a public meeting at Veligallu. People would not believe his promises of giving every facility ‘free’, he asserted.

The government was executing irrigation projects as it knew the farmers’ woes, implementing several schemes as it was aware of the plight of the poorer sections and knew the importance of irrigation projects. Even Telugu Desam Party activists would agree that the TDP would not implement irrigation projects if the party gained power, Dr. Reddy said.

Rebutting TDP leaders’ charges of corruption in irrigation projects, he alleged rampant misuse of rice allotted by the Central government under food-for-work programme in the TDP rule.

The farmers got remunerative prices in his government as paddy price rose from Rs. 580 to Rs. 930 per quintal as against its paltry increase from Rs. 500 to Rs. 580 per quintal during the TDP rule, he said. Similarly cotton price went up from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 per quintal in his government and maize and sunflower farmers also got a good price, he said.

Justifies loan waiver

As farmers had incurred debts due to drought and were on verge of committing suicides, the government waived their loans. Loans to the tune of Rs. 300 crore had been in Kadapa district. Besides Rs. 2-a-kg rice, essential commodities like Bengal gram and edible oil were being given on subsidy. The Chief Minister urged people to bless him and re-elect his party as it was pro-poor. Earlier he inaugurated the Veligallu rehabilitation colony of 580 houses and participated in house warming ceremony of a house.

PR flayed

Minister for Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the State government was giving the best rehabilitation package in Polavaram, Mid Manair, Veligallu and other projects. Jalayagnam was linked to drinking water too and the 45 ongoing projects would provide 100 tmcft. of water towards drinking water to 250 villages.

He had a dig at Praja Rajyam alleging that new parties lacked proper direction and were trying to dupe people. Opposition parties which were opposing projects and raising a bogey of corruption in them were ‘betrayers’, he said.

Minister for Medical Education G. Aruna Kumari, Rajampet Member of Parliament A. Sai Pratap, Lakkireddipalle legislator G. Mohan Reddy, Zilla Parishad Chairperson D. Jyothi Reddy, Kadapa Mayor P. Ravindranath Reddy, MLCs and MLAs, Collector M.T. Krishna Babu and Superintendent of Police D.S. Chauhan participated.

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