Chandrababu neglects Vizianagaram district in all areas

Nellimarla, Vizianagaram district: Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly and YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy flayed the Chandrababu Naidu government for neglecting the Vizianagaram district in all areas. Addressing a massive public meeting here today,

YS Jagan said that the government had decades ago given on lease, land to the local jute mill. But the local villagers have been complaining now that the jute mill owner has been claiming ownership of the land. The Chandrababu Naidu government remained mum while such brazen land-grabbing was being attempted.

The YSR Congress party president pointed out that Rs. 220 crore was allocated to the Ramateertha Sagar project by the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Dr. YSR also ensured an increase in the capacity of the reservoir for the supply of drinking water to Vizianagaram.

However, once Chandrababu assumed power in the four and half years of TDP rule, no work has been done on the Ramateertha Sagar project.

At this point YS Jagan requested the crowd to make way for an auto carrying a pregnant lady. He observed that it was unfortunate that as compared to 108 ambulance service earlier, a pregnant lady was forced to travel in an auto under TDP rule.

Referring to the scam related Bhogapuram airport, the YSRCP chief said that lands of the poor were acquired while ministers' land and MP's lands were spared. The Chandrababu Naidu government had turned the entire project into a massive real estate venture, he said. YS Jagan recalled that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) came forward to complete the Bhogapuram airport, but the Naidu government did not want it to take up the project. The second time when the tenders were called for again, the eligibilty criteria were changed to prevent AAI from participating, he said. YS Jagan pointed out that all this happened right under the nose of the Union Civil Aviation minister at that time, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who was in the Centre for four years. Ashok Gajapathi Raju was also silent on the railway zone and played second fiddle to Chandrababu Naidu in everything, he observed.

YS Jagan recalled that 23,000 homes for the poor were built in the reign of Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy in Vizianagaram district alone, while 48 lakh houses were built in undivided AP during Dr. YSR's time. In contrast, not a single house was built in the district by Chandrababu Naidu. People everywhere complained that there were no welfare schemes on the ground, but resources and assets were being looted indiscriminately.

Sand mining was rampant along the banks of Champavati river, he pointed out. Chandrababu Naidu says sand is being supplied free. "Is this true?", YS Jagan asked to a resounding "no" from the huge audience. The YSRCP chief pointed out that all these scams related to the loot of the state, led to the doorstep of Pedda Babu and Chinna Babu.

YS Jagan criticized the TDP government for allocating to the relative of an MLA, land meant for Dalits here. He pointed out that Heritage was being patronised at the cost of dairy farmers. While a bottle of mineral water cost Rs. 22, milk was being bought for Rs. 26 a litre! It was then being repackaged and sold for 3-4 times this price by corporate entities like Heritage, he said. At the time of elections, Chandrababu Naidu had promised waiver of loans, but farmers loans were not waived as promised. YS Jagan added that women's groups are being forced to pay interest and the government did not support them with even a fourth of the interest amount, he said.

YS Jagan said that Chandrababu had coined the slogan "Job kavali ante babu ravali" (Babu should come for getting jobs). However, this remained a mirage, he reminded the large audience. Youth were promised unemployment allowance which did not materialise. Now, with four months to go for elections Chandrababu is speaking of employment, he said.

YS Jagan slammed the TDP government for spending Rs. 6 cr 40 lakh on advertisements. The YSRCP chief said the Chandrababu government had betrayed the cause of Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh. He pointed out that DSE exams were not being held.

The YSRCP chief lambasted Chandrababu Naidu for making tall claims that 20 lakh rupees investment had come to AP and 40 lakh jobs had been generated.

The ground reality is that jute mills are being shut down, sugar factories being closed, power tariff hiked, among a host of other day to day problems. YS Jagan said that while industries were being closed and there was no job security to employees across sectors, Chandrababu made incorrect claims to the contrary. He reminded the huge audience that sanitation workers had been on strike for 53 days. It was unfortunate that Chandrababu was out to palm the services to private benami contractors for kickbacks.

YS Jagan observed that mid-day meal program staff were supplied substandard raw material by the government, their salaries not paid for months on end and their bills not cleared. The government was drawing up an elaborate scheme to outsource the services imperilling the future of more than 80000 employees.

The YSRCP chief pointed out that 108 services had been completely watered down and the few ambulances which were there were not in working condition. All categories of employees including teachers, lecturers, hospital staff, power department staff, among others were unhappy with the treatment being meted out to them, he said.

YS Jagan said that the Polavaram project stood as a symbol of TDP corruption. He reminded the large gathering that even education was not spared and the government promoted the Narayana group at the cost of government schools and colleges. Similarly, Arogyasri was completely watered down by the TDP government, he said. Wine and belt shops mushroomed everywhere in the state and Janmabhoomi committees demand bribes for everything, he observed.

Justice would be done to all segments of society under Rajanna Rajyam, YS Jagan assured the large audience.