The Women’s Day celebrations organised by Telugu Desam Party here turned out be a damp squib. Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s pep talk failed to evoke desired response and in enthusing the women folk seated at the venue.
The TDP organised the day here on Friday, but there were no claps and cheers even when the TDP leader stated that Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram would come nowhere near the homemakers in financial management. “He (Mr. Chidambaram) is good at jugglery of words. But, you are efficient in managing the available resources in the best possible manner,” he said. Baring on couple occasions, hardly there was any applause for the rhetoric of Mr. Naidu, who showered them with all promises and sops. There was hardly any response when the TDP leader asserted that he would abolish the belt shops if the TDP were voted to power. Unfortunately, the women were forced to “purchase peace” by giving a portion of their earnings to their husbands who were addicted to liquor. The TDP would put an end to belt shops as soon as it came to power, he promised.
The response was not encouraging even when he spoke about 33 per cent reservations for women in legislatures. He, however, was quick to add, “I am taking all pains to uplift the women. Unless there is awareness in you, all my experiments will go in vain. It will have a bearing on the party.”
Kolleru Lake management for women, construction of latrines to women, depositing of Rs.25,000 in the name of girl child were some of the other boons showered by the TDP leader. Mr. Naidu, in his spirit boosting session, stressed on the need for self-respect and self-confidence among the women.
MP Konakalla Narayana Rao, MLC Nannapaneni Rajakumari, Mylavaram MLA and TDP district president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Kaikaluru MLA Jayamangala Venkata Ramana, Telugu Mahila State president and MLA Shobha Hymavathi, district president Achanta Sunitha, former mayor Panchumarthi Anuradha, TDP senior leader Yerneni Sitadevi, and others were present.
