Date:18/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/18/stories/2007061805390100.htm

Front Page

Opposition criticism will not deter Government, says YSR

Special Correspondent

`No Government has done what we are doing on the welfare front'

ALL SMILES: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekara Reddy greeting delegates at the Congress training camp at Kompally near Hyderabad on Sunday. - Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD:

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said that the Government will not be cowed down by the continuing criticism of the ongoing programmes by Opposition parties.

"No Government has done what we are doing on the welfare and development fronts," he said, addressing the Congress political training programme at Kompally, near here, on Sunday.

Launching a broadside against the TDP and the CPI (M), Dr. Reddy said: `The agitations launched by the two parties are meant only for their political survival. The parties are desperate to derail the Government programmes by launching negative propaganda.' Minor lapses in massive programmes should not overshadow the good work being done by the Government, he said.

Referring to the TDP demand for completion of the Pranahita-Chevella link channel before the Dummugudem-Nagarjunasagar tail pond project, he wondered how it was justified to give priority to a project in one region and neglect those in other regions. Dr. Reddy said that only the surplus Godavari waters would be diverted to the proposed project.

Training his guns on the CPI (M) `land occupation' agitation, he observed the party was `afraid' of its survival after the massive housing programme was grounded. "They are only demanding house-sites but we are constructing houses."

Advice to Ministers

Differences within the Congress ought to be sorted out amicably, he said, asking the Ministers to regularly visit party offices and interact with cadres.

APCC president K.Keshava Rao said more training programmes will be conducted in districts.

A national training institute named after Rajiv Gandhi to train party cadre will be established in Medchal on eight acres.

Visakhapatnam MP Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy wanted the party to concentrate on interaction with the cadres to enhance its image. AICC secretary Iqbal Singh said Andhra Pradesh was set to become a model in agriculture, irrigation and housing. V. Hanumantha Rao, MP, urged party workers to create awareness among the people about the development/welfare programmes.

Ministers K Jana Reddy, P. Sabita Indra Reddy, A.Ramanarayan Reddy, N.Raghuveera Reddy, N. Raylakshmi and Union Minister M.M.Pallam Raju attended the programme.