The Hindu : Cong. on comeback trail: MSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Cong. on comeback trail: MSR

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL March 30. The APCC chief, M. Satyanarayana Rao, has said people will thrust upon the Congress the role of ruling the State in the next elections. People are fed up with the TDP Government which has done nothing except imposing taxes on people and in order to get rid of the TDP, people will vote for the Congress without solicitation of votes, he said.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Rao, who was here to take part in the DCC-sponsored dharna against the power tariff hike at the Collectorate on Saturday, said it was clear by now that the Congress would come to power in the State after two years but it wanted to stop the damage being done to the economy of the State by the TDP. The Government increased the debt burden to Rs. 49,000 crores and the next Government had to bear the brunt of the financial mess. Since the Congress was most likely to be the next ruling party, it was the duty of the party to prevent damage now.

The APCC chief announced that the party would launch a protracted struggle against power tariff hike keeping in view the mistakes last time. Despite the three-month long struggle, Opposition parties could not pressure the Government to roll back the hike. Because of the ineffectiveness of the struggle, the Government could venture to effect another round of hike now.

Analysing the shortcomings of last time's agitation, Mr. Rao said the struggle was confined to only the urban areas and the protest started in the State capital, which spread to the rural areas later. However, this time, the Congress would launch the struggle in the rural areas involving farmers and other sections. In fact, the rural people were the worst-hit by the power tariff hike, he said. The extended executive of the APCC would meet on April 9 to discuss the strategy of the struggle. The support of like-minded parties would also be taken.

Mr. Rao said the tax hike issue would be used to expose "the insincerity'' of the Chief Minister, who "shouted from rooftops" during the municipal elections that no tax burden would be imposed on people. Contrary to the promise, the taxes were increased the very next moment people cast their votes.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Fiscal discipline toned up : A.P. Minister

Govt., Opposition trade charges

Surana forays into Net telephony

Dressing down on child marriages nets results

Land row in agency area to the fore

Credit plan for Chittoor launched

Cong. on comeback trail: MSR

Tirumanjanam on April 2