The YSRCP, if voted to power, will not allow bauxite mining in the Agency area of Visakhapatnam district under any circumstances, its president Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy has said.
“This apart, the tribal dominant areas will be carved into separate districts,” Mr. Reddy said while addressing an election rally at Paderu on Saturday. YSRCP candidate for Paderu Assembly constituency Bhagyalakshmi and the party nominee for Araku Lok Sabha seat G. Madhavi were present.
The TDP government made several attempts to undertake bauxite mining in the area , and had even written letters to the Centre in this regard, Mr. Reddy alleged, and said, “We could stop that due to the party’s sustained struggle.”
Jibe at Eswari
Stating that the welfare of STs and SCs was high on his agenda, Mr. Reddy said, “As the YSRCP cornered most of the seats reserved for STs and SCs in the previous elections, the TDP government denied funds for their development. The TDP also lured our MLAs into its fold. You all remember what Giddi Eswari (formerly with the YSRCP) said about Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during the previous elections. Now, she is contesting on TDP ticket. I need not say anything more. You are the best judges.”
Castigating the TDP government for not constituting the Tribal Advisory Committees and, instead, putting in place the Janmabhoomi committees, he said the YSRCP, if voted to power, would abolish them.
He promised to set up a super-speciality hospital under each ITDA, a medical and an engineering college.
“We will improve the educational and medical facilities in the Agency area so that people need not go to far-off places for treatment,” Mr. Reddy said.
Take on Naidu
Taking a dig at Mr. Naidu, he asked the audience, “Have you seen Mahanayakudu , a film on great actor and TDP founder NTR? There is one character called “donga alludu,” who had back-stabbed his father-in-law. That very person is now out to cheat the people.”
“Broken promises, corruption, inefficiency at all levels, and land-grabbing are the hallmarks of the TDP government. In the name of land pooling, it has grabbed land everywhere,” Mr. Reddy charged.
Mr. Naidu had promised to remove belt shops, but liquor was flowing freely all over the State, he said, and added, “You will find at least three to four belt shops even in small villages. Mr. Naidu has certainly made the State No. 1 in that aspect.”
“To cover-up his failures and to cheat the people again, Mr. Naidu announced several schemes ahead of the elections. But people have seen through his tricks. They will vote for the YSRCP,” Mr. Jagan said.
The party contestants took a pledge that they would not switch loyalties after getting elected.
‘Jobs for youth’
Staff Reporter in Srikakulam writes: Addressing an election rally at Palasa, Mr. Reddy promised to fill the 2.3 lakh posts lying vacant if his party was voted to power. “Recruitment notification will be issued every year ,” Mr. Reddy said and promised to bring in a piece of legislation, making it mandatory for the industries in the private sector too to reserve 75% jobs for the locals.
In this context, he accused the TDP government of failing to fill the 1.42 lakh posts lying vacant since 2014, causing much disappointment among the unemployed youth.
“If voted to power, contracts and nomination works will be given to the unemployed youth to ensure them proper livelihood,” he said.
‘Village secretariats’ would be constituted to provide all services to the people at their doorstep, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said, and promised to appoint volunteers with an assured wage of ₹5,000 per month to oversee the implementation of government schemes.
“These and the ‘Navaratna’ schemes will benefit the people immensely,” he asserted.
Charging the TDP with planning to distribute ₹3,000 per vote, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “I request the people not to accept money. This is the time for the people to vote for the YSRCP and ensure its victory.”
Accusing the family of TDP MLA Gowthu Shyam Sundar Shivaji of collecting “TDP tax” from businessmen, he urged the people to elect YSRCP candidate S. Appala Raju for the good of Palasa constituency.
