Andhra Pradesh

Soaring prices

Unprecedented increase of essential commodity prices, mainly the edible oils and cereals, has began breaking the spine of the common man.

The parties in power and in the Opposition are fully engaged in making tall promises to woo the voters in view of the general elections in 2009.

Traders created artificial scarcity by hoarding the essential commodities. Even the people, who are above poverty line, are making a beeline to the fair price shops for purchasing the Rs.2-a-kg rice.

Incidentally they all have white ration cards, as the number of white ration cards in the district is outnumbering the number of households.

T. L. Kanta Rao

Vijayawada

The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities like vegetables, edible oils and cereals have been wrecking havoc for the middle class people. The politicians are indulging in wordy duels and tall promises in view of fast approaching general elections. They should desist from politicising the price rises in the interest of people. The tall promises and wordy duel by politicians will not bail out the people from soaring prices.

A. Seshachalam

Machilipatnam

‘Mee Kosam’ yatra undertaken by former chief minister and TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu turned to be a big crowd-puller in the last couple of days.

But, the people responded in a big way to his criticism against sky-rocketing prices and Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme. They responded with a big ‘No’ when he asked whether they were happy with Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme, as it was benefiting only black marketers.

The government should understand the response to his yatra, and take necessary steps to bring down the prices and diversion of rice from the subsidy scheme to black market.

B. Vanaja

Guntur

Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu promised 12 hours free power to the agriculture sector, unemployment dole of 60 kg of rice through the public distribution system and hike in pensions from Rs.200 to Rs. 500 turning his autobiography,

“Plain Speaking”, into a joke.

It may be recalled that Mr. Naidu opposed free

power to agriculture sector, and increase in the

price of subsidy rice from Rs. 2 to Rs. 3.50 kg in 1996, and to Rs. 5.25 kg in 2000.

There is no doubt that Mr. Naidu is resorting to doublespeak for coming back to power.

Nevertheless, the people would teach a befitting

lesson to the politicians,

who ditched them while in power.

M. Krishna Kumari

Vijayawada

Being in the Opposition for more than four years seems to have changed the mindset of former chief minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu. He set himself on self-discovery yatra.

Naidu, who christened himself as the chief executive officer of Andhra Pradesh while at the helm, appeared intent on shedding the image and identify himself with the poor and convince them by saying,

“I’m a changed man. Bless me.” All said and done, the people would not forget Basheerbagh firing, two times hike in price of rice from Rs. 2-a-kg rice, an idea of NT Rama Rao, neglect of agriculture and his lopsided policies.

C. Ramakotaiah

Vijayawada

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