The Hindu : Padayatra has forced Govt. to recast priorities: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Padayatra has forced Govt. to recast priorities: YSR

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD June 19. Summing up his padayatra, the CLP leader, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, here on Thursday said that his exercise could successfully force the Government to recast its priorities due to the overwhelming response of the poor and the downtrodden, particularly women and youth.

Addressing a press conference along with the PCC president, M.Satyanarayana Rao, after arriving to a rousing reception of party workers, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy felt that the yatra had proved that "no government could take people for granted. As a responsible Opposition, the Congress had to do its duty in a democratic manner.''

Henceforth, the padayatra would be used as an effective weapon to tackle the anti-people policies of the Government. "The TDP leaders have foul-mouthed me several times. People have debunked all their claims of development by highlighting the neglect in a unique fashion - by silently joining me in large numbers. That is my answer to their abuses,'' he added.

Another salient feature that has come to the fore during the yatra is the love of the people for "Indiramma and Sonia Gandhi. People desire to see a pro-poor party like the Congress back in power in the State.''

He agreed that the differences within the party were historical but people were not bothered about it. "Their concern is more with the misrule of the TDP and certainly not with our internal differences.''

Dr.Reddy and Mr.Rao thanked party workers and leaders of all districts and also the people who made the yatra a resounding success "forcing even the TDP, which ridiculed the exercise initially, to consider the option of going to people by holding cycle rallies.''

Dr.Rajasekhara Reddy, in particular, was grateful to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, for clearing the proposal of the yatra and said "the blessings of the senior Congress leaders and the love of our cadre helped me overcome the arduous effort easily.''

Dr. Reddy later proceeded to the Assembly and garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. He was received by the chief marshal of the House and other staff before proceeding to his chambers.

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Padayatra has forced Govt. to recast priorities: YSR