An able leader like Chandrababu Naidu should be there at the helm if A.P. were to progress further. While bifurcation was unjust, non-implementation of the promises made in the State Reorganisation Act was even worse, IT Minister N. Lokesh said here on Thursday.
Addressing the students of various colleges, Mr. Lokesh said that Mr. Naidu had taken various measures to put the State on the road to recovery. Per capita income, which was 9% before bifurcation, increased to 25% now. The State secured top position in attracting FDI, he said.
In the last five years, three lakh jobs were created in various sectors. The construction of the Polavaram irrigation project and Amaravati were in crucial phases, and Mr. Naidu’s leadership was needed for their completion, he added.
Citing the examples of Singapore and South Korea, Mr. Lokesh attributed their growth to the strong political leadership.
‘TDP a university’
Calling upon the youth to join politics, Mr. Lokesh said, “The TDP is a university for training youth. I am a sub-junior here, and there is no ragging in our university.”
Jagan Mohan, an MBA student, told Mr. Lokesh that the proposal to construct a sports stadium at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant township should be reviewed. Instead, it should be built at Madhurawada, he said.
Some students told him that basic infrastructure was lacking in the rural areas.
Admitting that a lot more needs to be done, Mr. Lokesh said the government constructed approximately 30,000-km of cement concrete roads.
When a student said local youth were not being given priority by the industries, Mr. Lokesh said, “Entrepreneurs are shying away saying that the youth have the academic qualification, but lacked basic skills.” He underlined the need for bringing some changes in the curriculum so that the students could be equipped with necessary skills during their years in the college.
