The Hindu : Cong. slogan misleading, says Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Cong. slogan misleading, says Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

CHIRALA OCT. 22. The Minister for Finance and Legislative Affairs, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, has accused the Opposition leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, of misleading people with his slogan of free electricity to the agricultural sector if the Congress is voted to power in the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he wanted to know why the Congress was not offering it in any of the 14 States in which it holds office.

Referring to the APCC chief spokesperson, K. Rosaiah's accusation that the TDP Government had plunged the State in debts, he said it was the Congress Government which had bequeathed a debt of Rs.16,000 crores to the TDP. "Our Government is still allocating crores every year to clear that whopping amount'', he added.

Later, addressing a public meeting at Vetapalem, the Finance Minister came down heavily on the opposition for criticising the TDP rule without paying attention to the progress it had achieved.

Mr. Ramakrishnudu observed that politics should be spoken of only during electioneering and once polling was over all parties irrespective of political ideologies should concentrate on development.

To tackle drought effectively the State Government had urged the Centre to release five lakh tonnes of rice and Rs. 810 crores, but only 3 lakh tonnes of rice had been released. Under the Food-for-work programme, 31.80 lakh tonnes of rice has been released to the State so far.

The Minister for Marketing, Damacharla Anjaneyulu said Rs.40 crores was sanctioned to the district by the Centre under Sectoral Reforms for improving drinking water sources and sanitation.

He appreciated the villagers for coming forward to avail of the scheme. He laid the foundation to the water scheme estimated at around Rs. 1 crore.

Earlier, the ZP Chairman, Mukku Kasi Reddy laid the foundation-stone to a bridge across the Romperu drain at Stambalacheruvu in Old Chirala while the Vijayawada MP, Gadde Rama Mohan Rao, laid the foundation-stone to a cement road and drains, estimated to cost Rs. 5 lakh, in Deerala Nagaiah street, Devangapuri. The Bapatla MP, D. Ramanaidu inaugurated a `kalyanamandapam' constructed at a cost of Rs.7 lakhs at Hariprasad Nagar at Chirala.

The MLAs, Dr. Paleti Rama Rao and Dr. Divi Siva Ram and the district Collector, R. Karikal Valaven attended.

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