Telugu Desam MPs, who converged on the Government Arts College grounds at Anantapur on Wednesday to undertake one-day deeksha, alleged that the BJP-led NDA government had cheated the people of Andhra Pradesh, and resorted to undo developmental works in the drought-hit areas by showing discrimination in release of funds besides reneging on the promise of a Bundelkhand-like package.
The MPs — Galla Jayadev, JC Diwakar Reddy, Kanakamedala Ravindra, CM Ramesh, Thota Narasimhulu, Nimmala Kristappa, Avanti Srinivas, Konakalla Narayna, Murali Mohan, Butta Renuka, and others, along with Minister Paritala Sunitha, district MLAs, MLCs and senior TDP cadre participated in the ‘deeksha’ that was organised amid fanfare. Government Chief Whip Payyavula Keshav said: “While the backward regions of States in the North are getting heavy inflow of funds, the Rayalaseema region and Uttarandhra are being shown intolerable discrimination.” Mr. Ramesh’s remark that the party MPs would show the might of Rayalaseema in the coming Parliament session was greeted by applause. He asked YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to attend the all-party meeting scheduled in New Delhi to prove his commitment.
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Mr. Diwakar Reddy surprised the gathering by announcing that his active days in politics would soon be coming to an end. He said he had repeatedly cautioned Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that the BJP-led government would never help the State. He said the drought-prone Anantapur would soon be transform into another Konaseema, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. Naidu. Mr. Jayadev said though the TDP had adopted many methods to convince the BJP to release funds to the Rayalaseema and N. Andhra regions, there was no response from it.
