HYDERABAD: A five-minute film on Andhra Pradesh titled The Heart of India produced by Mani Shanker will be viewed by US President George W. Bush, before he lands here on Friday.

The short film will be screened aboard Air Force One during its one-hour and fifty-minute flight from New Delhi to the State capital, according to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Dr. Reddy, who will conduct Mr. Bush at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU) for nearly an hour, said while he was happy at the US President's visit to acquaint himself about farm practices, he would not approach him with a begging bowl to seek assistance for the State.

Answering questions at a press conference on Thursday, the Chief Minister said he would project Andhra Pradesh as it is and how it is surging forward on different fronts. He would focus on the present status of agriculture and on how production was increasing. He would also explain the concept of self-help groups and bank loans given to them at low interest rate.

MNCs welcome

To another query, he said any multi-national company from the US was welcome to the State. He disclosed that Monsanto had come forward to pay compensation to farmers who suffered loss on account of the Bt cottonseed supplied by the company.

The Chief Minister dismissed as "unnecessary hype" the protests being organised by different organisations against the visit. "Some parties perceive harm out of India-US association. Our approach is holistic and down-to-earth." He declined to draw a comparison between the visit by Bill Clinton to the city six years ago and the upcoming one by his successor.

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