Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Hyderabad has become the most favoured venue for hosting international events in the country. The successful conduct of XI Conference of Parties (CoP) on biodiversity has reaffirmed the city’s status, he observed.
Speaking at the 23rd anniversary of ‘Sadbhavana Yatra’ day at the historic Charminar here on Friday, the Chief Minister stated that even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had endorsed the development achieved by the city during his recent visit. The city will host the International Agricultural Congress next year, he said.
Rallying force
By taking up Sadbhavana Yatra for peace and harmony in the country on the same day in 1990, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had the entire country rallying behind him, the Chief Minister recollected.
The Chief Minister had to face protest by Telanagana protagonists at the meeting as the members of Telangana Advocates’ JAC tried to disrupt the event by raising slogans. However, policemen, present in large numbers there, whisked them away.
Stating that the Congress government was committed to the development of the old city, Mr. Reddy said a training centre of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) was being set up there to train youth in construction work. Besides, the government is planning to provide housing for the old city’s poor by developing a township on a 100-acre site, he said. Four per cent reservation for Muslims had enabled selection of 60 youths from the community as Sub-Inspectors of Police recently, he said.
Award for Potturi
Earlier, PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana hoisted the party flag to commemorate the day. The Chief Minister presented Rajiv Sadbhavana Award to senior journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao on the occasion. Several Congress leaders, including Anjan Kumar Yadav, P. Sudhakar Reddy and K. Keshava Rao, participated in the event.
