Hyderabad, April 9,
2013: It was on April 9 ten years ago that the late legendary leader Dr. YSR
began his historical 1500-km Praja Prasthanam Padayatra from Chevella in Ranga
Reddy district to Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district.
Dr. YSR wanted to
become closer to the people, to understand their problems from their
neighbourhood and asses their requirements as one among them through his
Padayatra. It was historic as no other leader dared to undertake such a
Padayatra before YSR. It was unique as YSR undertook the foot march in the hot
summer of 2003 to reach out to the people to boost up their confidence and
rekindle their hopes on their future. It was innovative too as YSR successfully
proved to the world that Padayatras are political instruments that would help
leaders take democracy to the doorstep of the people and bridge the gap between
people and leaders.
YSR never hankered
after political power but power came to his feet later as he became closer to
the people first through his Padayatra. His Padayatra and his later accession
to political power proved that leaders would become successful only when they
assess people’s requirements and take steps to fulfill them.
Knowing the
requirements of the masses and of the poor, Dr. YSR effortlessly implemented a
plethora of welfare schemes during his regime and fulfilled the aspirations of
people. He sincerely gave them what they wanted. His sincerity in implementing
various welfare schemes such as free power, Arogya Sri, 104 and 108 services,
pensions to the widows, the aged and the mentally and visually challenged
people and loans to women at 25 paisa interest without taxing them in return
catapulted him to the pedestal of power once again in 2009.
YSR,
a role model for Jagan
Taking Dr. YSR as his
role model, YSR Congress chief Sri Y.S. Jagan
Mohan Reddy had chosen April 9 in 2010 to launch his Odarpu Yatra to become
closer to people and to become one among them like YSR in the process of
keeping up his promise to the people.
For Sri Jagan Mohan
Reddy, fulfilling the commitment given to the people at Pavuralagutta was more
important than anything else. This commitment only transformed itself into his
Odarpu Yatra. Following the footsteps of his father, Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy also
didn’t run after power but he showed his spirits to reach out to people. He
ignited his enthusiasm to be one among the people and to mingle with them who
showered their solidarity with his family in difficult times. It was his inner
instinct to develop and nurture his relationship with people who Jagan Mohan
Reddy considered were part of his bigger family that made him defy the Congress
command and continue with his Odarpu Yatra.
There is no need for
leaders like Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy to search for political power but the power
itself would search for, and embrace, leaders like him. The day is not far off
when the world will witness this phenomenon.
Will take oath at Visakha: CM
