The Hindu : YSR seeks special Assembly session on CM's sops

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

YSR seeks special Assembly session on CM's sops

By Our Staff Reporter

KOTHAKOTA (VISAKHAPATNAM DT.) MAY 31. The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Saturday ridiculed the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu's announcement that he would opt for re-appropriation of the budget to implement the sops doled out by him at the Tirupati Mahanadu of Telugu Desam and demanded a special session of the Assembly to discuss the promises made by him.

Addressing press conference here after completing 13.8-km.-long padayatra from Bodepalli to Kothakota in the district, Dr. Reddy wondered why Mr. Naidu wanted to deviate from the approved budget at this juncture when the budget session concluded just two months ago.

``To uphold healthy parliamentary practices, the Government has to convene a special session of the Assembly immediately. Though the Cabinet has powers to deviate from the approved plan, the Government owes an explanation to people as well as the House on the rationale behind such an exigency,'' he averred.

The Congress Legislature Party leader said that there was no dramatic change in the drought situation now. "I don't know what prompted him (Mr. Naidu) to announce so many sops. I also wonder why he did not include all these sops in the general budget,'' he pointed out.

Stating that the schemes so far unveiled by the TDP Government were helping only in "filling the pockets'' of the yellow brigade (TDP people), Dr. Reddy said that the Government should concede the demand for constitution of all-party committees at the mandal level to ensure proper utilisation of funds.

The CLP chief had a dig at the Government for neglecting the tribals and said the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) was on the verge of closure due to the apathy of the powers that be. Allocation for tribal welfare had been slashed this year to Rs. 189 crores from last year's Rs. 240 crores. In the same vein, he cited a report of the Planning Commission on Human Resource Development and said that tribal literacy in AP had remained at 17 per cent when it was 37 per cent in Maharashtra, 36 in Karnataka, 28 in Tamil Nadu, and 22 in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a roadside meeting at Rolugunta, Dr. Reddy promised a rollback of the power tariff hike.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Krishna playing water politics: A.P.

4 TDP men done to death

Bankers told to extend aid to 10,000 SHGs

TDP activist's house blasted

LAWCET: Telangana candidates strike it big

YSR seeks special Assembly session on CM's sops

Krishna non-committal on return to politics

Villagers force naxals to beat retreat

Naidu cool to YSR's debate offer