Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday promised a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000 to masjid imams and assured ₹15,000 a month for maintenance of all the temples, mosques and churches.
Addressing Muslim minorities in an “atmeeya sadassu“ at Putlur in Pathikonda constituency in Kurnool district, Mr. Jagan said his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had extended 4% reservation to Muslims, but Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ditched them after promising 8%.
Charging the Chandrababu Naidu government with misusing Central funds released for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and that corruption had reached alarming proportions, Mr. Jagan asked “if the people need such a Chief Minister”who lost credibility.
The government had been using the NREGS funds for work done by machines and ignoring the work force against the spirit of the Central scheme, he said interacting with people in his Paja Sankalpa Yatra. He reiterated his navaratna schemes, promised to waive loans of women self-help groups in four phases besides giving top priority to housing.
The Amma Vodi scheme would ensure that two children in every poor man’s family were sent to school and ₹15,000 would be credited to their mother’s account directly.
MLA candidate announced
YSR implemented welfare schemes which stole the hearts of all sections of people but Mr. Naidu was unable to complete even the Krishnagiri and Pathikonda reservoir work which showed his lopsided priorities, he said.
Elections would be held in one year’s time and it would be a requiem to the TDP, he said and announced the candidature of the YSRC’s Pathikonda constituency in charge Cherukulapadu Sridevi from the Pathikonda Assembly constituency. He visited the tomb of YSRC leader Cherukulapadu Narayana Reddy who was brutally killed in an attack a few months ago and paid homage. Mr. Jagan rode a bullock cart and wielded a whip in Cherukulapadu village, amid cheers from villagers. He squatted to hear a differently abled youth Jaipal Reddy at Krishnagiri who sought enhancement of monthly pension to ₹3,000 and quota of subsidy rice to 35 kg a month.
He staged padayatra from Laddagiri road and passed through Potluru and Togarachedu crossroads, Krishnagiri, Ramakrishnapuram and made a night halt there.
