The Hindu : `Janda panduga' concludes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

`Janda panduga' concludes

By Our Staff Reporter

MEDAK, FEB. 15. The `janda panduga' of the TDP ended here on Sunday with the party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, calling upon the public not to believe the promises of the Opposition.

Mr. Naidu visited 14 districts during the week and pedalled bicycle (the TDP's symbol) up to the venue of public meetings after hoisting party flag in towns.

As he was going on bicycle here, Mr. Naidu found crowds staying far away from thoroughfares for security reasons. He shouted at the police to allow them to come up to the barricading. Thereafter, the public followed the cycle rally.

At the public meeting, he criticised the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for trying to disintegrate the State on a `sensitive issue.' An integrated State was a must for development, he said.

He alleged that the Congress and the TRS were forging an alliance for political gain. If they were voted to power, naxalite activity would go unchecked, he said.

Accusing the Congress of creating obstacles for development, Mr. Naidu said it (Congress) wanted to abolish the Janmabhoomi which had taken the administration to the doorstep of villagers.

Mr. Naidu said steps were on to ensure adequate power supply to the farm sector. He asked farmers not to believe the talk of free power by the Congress.

"The speed of bicycle has picked up and it will storm all constituencies giving the TDP a landslide victory," he predicted.

The police made elaborate security arrangements. The Ministers from the district, C. Muthyam Reddy and P. Babu Mohan, the district TDP president, B. Jagapathi, and the former Medak MLA, Karanam Uma Ramachandra Rao, were also present.

Low turnout

The turnout at the public meeting was low when compared to the size at the usual rallies of Mr. Naidu.

The security measures taken by the police were said to be the reason for the poor public response.

There were no people on the one km stretch of road from the Ramdas Chourasta where Mr. Naidu started pedalling his bicycle to the venue of the public meeting until his arrival.

Shops were closed and people barred from coming out of their houses throughout the route which was barricaded on both sides.

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Andhra Pradesh