The Cash Transfer Scheme and the development of Information Technology for which AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi is taking credit were his proposals, Telugu Desam Party president Nara Chandrababu Naidu has said. Mr. Naidu was accorded a rousing reception at the Palleru Bridge on the Krishna-Nalgonda border on Monday. The ‘Vastunna Meekosam Padayatra’ being undertaken by Mr. Naidu entered the Krishna district without any problem despite several threats made by the district Congress leaders to obstruct it.
Women accorded a traditional welcome to Mr. Naidu with ‘haarathi’. A troupe of women even performed ‘kolatam’ welcoming him into the district.
Mr. Naidu covered Anumanchipalli, Sher Muhamadpeta and reached Jaggaiahpet by evening. The response to the padayatra was overwhelming at Sher Muhamadpeta with women turning up in strength to walk with Mr. Naidu.
Addressing a public meeting in Jaggaiahpet Mr. Naidu said that criminal cases were being booked against Telugu Desam leaders and activists. This kind of harassment would not be tolerated and rebutted, he said.
Mr. Naidu said that farmers were not getting remunerative price for their produce. They were being forced to agitate and face the lathis of the police to get fertilizers and other inputs. While the going was really smooth for the TDP, the Congress leaders and workers who tried to make it to Garikapadu were rounded up and sent back.
Youth Congress leader Devineni Avinash, who tried to cross the police barricade at Anumanchipalli, was arrested and sent back to Vijayawada. Former Minister Devineni Rajasekhar swooned when the police tried to arrest him. He was allowed to sit outside the house under the watchful eye of constables.
Vijayawada MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Vellampalli Srinivas were stopped at Paritala and sent back. Pedana MLA Jogi Ramesh was arrested at Keesara Toll gate. There was tension at the toll gate for a while when Mr. Ramesh’s followers clashed with TDP activists. The DSP on duty suffered minor injuries. The police even arrested TDP farmers’ wing leader Chalasani Anjeneyulu when he came here to give a representation to the MP.
