Though pro-Telangana supporters including ruling Congress MPs held protests against Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations in Telangana region today, it was a grand affair in other parts of the State.
The official celebration of the Formation Day took place at the NTR Stadium in Hyderabad where the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah took salute.
Though the State’s progress was impeded during the last financial year by massive floods, drought, regional agitations, communal violence and the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, things are looking up this year, Mr. Rosaiah said.
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The revenue collection during the first half of the current fiscal registered a 25.5 per cent growth compared to the corresponding period last year, he said.
Agricultural production fell to 150 lakh tonnes in 2009-10 due to floods and drought but the kharif and rabi output this year is expected to cross 210 lakh tonnes due to good rains and various initiatives of the government, he said.
Under ‘Jalayagnam’ (irrigation mission), 12 projects have been completed and about 20 lakh acres of waste lands have been provided irrigation facility. Existing irrigation facility for another three lakh acres has been stabilised.
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The State government is making efforts for the well being of rural development, backward classes and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Mr. Rosaiah said.
A new industrial investment promotion policy has been announced by the government which resulted in a congenial atmosphere in the State, he said.
As many as 10 lakh jobs have been created till March, 2010 with 4,224 major industries being set up with an investment of Rs 81,444 crore, Mr. Rosaiah said.
The State government is making sincere and concrete efforts to ensure rapid progress and welfare of people in various sectors, he asserted.
Quoting renowned scientist Albert Einstein, Mr. Rosaiah concluded his speech by highlighting the need to have peace which cannot be achieved by fighting but by mutual understanding.
TRS, several Telangana outfits and students hoisted black flags to express their protest against the celebration of the State Formation Day.
The TRS, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) and numerous groups fighting for separate statehood have called for observing the day as “Betrayal Day.”
TRS leaders hoisted a black flag in the party office here and at various places in the region. Wearing a black shirt, senior Congress MLA R Damodar Reddy hoisted a “Telangana flag” atop his house.
“Since there is a danger of a civil war erupting, we urge the Sri Krishna Committee to give a report in support of separate Telangana demand,” Mr. Damodar Reddy said.
Congress MPs from Telangana G Sukhender Reddy, G Vivek, K Rajagopal Reddy, M Jagannath and Madhu Yashki Goud held a protest in the city.
Raising slogans in support of Telangana, students held a demonstration in the Osmania University (OU) and they were prevented from marching ahead.
A group of Telangana supporters tried to come in the way of Chief Minister K Rosaiah’s convoy at Dharam Karan Road near his residence and they were removed from the place.
Some Telangana supporters threw stones at the residence of senior Congress MLA M Sasidhar Reddy at Tarnaka near OU, while another group of agitators held a protest at the residence of Information Minister J Geeta Reddy at Maredpally.
However, Congress leaders from non-Telangana regions paid obeisance at the statue of ‘Telugu Talli’ (Telugu mother) and held a rally.