Andhra Pradesh

YSR ‘insulted’ weavers: Naidu

SIRCILLA (KARIMNAGAR Dt): TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu flayed Chief Minister Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy for “insulting the weavers” by suggesting that they were inefficient and committing suicide after consuming adulterated toddy and indulging in family disputes.

Mr Chandrababu Naidu made a maiden visit to Sircilla on Friday to console the bereaved families of distressed powerloom weavers, who committed suicide due to unemployment and increasing debts following the invasion of jet and auto looms. He interacted with about 10 bereaved families in Sundaraiahnagar.

He launched a scathing attack against the Chief Minister for shedding crocodile tears on the condition of the distressed powerloom weavers. Stating that the weavers were resorting to suicide due to unemployment and increasing debts, he said that the weavers were unable to find work as there was no market for the fabric produced on powerlooms. Besides, the erratic power supply was also adding to the woes of the weavers in Sircilla, he charged.

Urging the Government to adopt a human approach in dealing with the current crisis, he asked the Government to procure all the cloth produced on the powerlooms and provide employment to the weavers. He also demanded the State distribute 25 kg of rice to all the weavers’ families in Sircilla.

He appealed to the weavers to wait for another four months and promised to solve their problems after attaining power. “I will provide jobs to all the powerloom weavers in Sircilla,” he said. Later, he participated in a ‘mahadharna’ in the heart of Sircilla, obstructing traffic throughout the day. TDP leaders Kadiam Srihari, Ch. Rajeshwara Rao, L. Ramana, Ch. Sudhakar Rao, S Devaiah and others were present.

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