HOLDING ON TO THE HOPE: The TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, holding a child of a farmer's wife at a rally in Hyderabad on Thursday. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday said the Congress Government had no right to hold `Vijayotsavam' on completion of one year in office when it failed to pay ex-gratia to families of over 2,000 farmers who had committed suicide.

The TDP mobilised families of farmers and weavers, who had committed suicide and were yet to be paid compensation, for a rally which was taken out from DBR Mills to Indira Park where a meeting was organised in protest against the Government's apathy.

Young widows carrying their children and elderly women who had lost either their sons or husbands submitted memoranda to Mr. Naidu who listened to their problems.

"Look at the pathetic condition of the families of farmers who ended their lives unable to clear the mounting debts and due to successive crop failure," Mr. Naidu said.

"Is it right to hold celebrations when the Government has failed to wipe tears of farmers' families?" he sought to know. "Instead of spending crores on the celebrations, it will be better if some money is earmarked to pay compensation," he observed.

He told them that his party would continue struggle against `anti-people' and `anti-farmer' policies. He wanted the promise of Rs. 2-lakh compensation to each farmer's family be fulfilled. Deva Tirupatamma of Nellore district, whose husband ended his life unable to clear the loan, alleged that officials were demanding money to pay compensation. Yadamma of Nalgonda district complained that she was denied compensation because her husband was a TDP worker.

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