Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

People are with us: Minister

VISAKHAPATNAM: Transport Minister and District Minister in-charge Kanna Lakshminarayana, who listed the various achievements of the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Government at a press conference on the occasion of commencement of the Samkshema Baata programme asserted that only the Congress has the right to seek the mandate again from the people and claimed that people have decided to re-elect the party.

But he was hard put to explain the Government’s insistence to go ahead with the bauxite mining in the Visakha Agency, the aluminium refineries, coastal corridor and other projects which were being vehemently opposed by the people and the reluctance to provide a jetty for fishermen near the Gangavaram port.

Industrial development was meant only for the development of the State and welfare of the people and the Chief Minister must have thought this way before going ahead with bauxite mining and other projects, Mr. Lakshminarayana said. When reminded that an overwhelming majority of the people rejected bauxite mining and the aluminium refineries during the public hearings, the Minister said some people might have mislead them.

When asked if the resolutions against bauxite mining made during the District Review Committee meeting was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, or why as District Minister in-charge he could not convey the people’s feelings to the Government, Mr. Lakshminarayana could not give a convincing answer.

On Gangavaram issue, which forced the fishermen community to decide to present a memorandum to President Pratiha Patil during her visit to the city on Saturday, Mr. Lakshminarayana said he would discuss with them.

Former Chairman of VUDA P.S.N. Raju, former MLA T. Suryanarayana Reddy and others were present.

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