Praja Sankalpa Yatra Diary, Day 120: Why Should The People Pay For Your Sins, Chandrababu?

Muppalla, Guntur District: The Padayatra this morning was something extraordinary. The groundswell of support that I have been receiving all through was on display in greater strength today. It took me three and half hours to cover a distance of 2 km amidst surging crowds. The festive atmosphere of Sri Rama Navami in the air, had to be seen to be believed. People put up canopies everywhere for protection from the blistering heat. Every few paces I would come across a Sitarama Kalyanam being performed. People everywhere greeted me and told me that they hoped and prayed that prosperity would be ushered in now, a pointer to the future under YSRCP. They prayed for Rama Rajyam and the end of the current tyrannical rule which symbolises evil.

I was overjoyed to see six year-old Sandeep today. His parents had met me during the course of the Padayatra in Kurnool district. Sandeep was born with a congenital hearing-speech impairment. His parents wept inconsolably when they met me in Kurnool. I comforted them and got Sandeep treated in Hyderabad. The cochlear implant has now bestowed hearing upon him and the lives of his parents lit up with joy at this miraculous development. Tears of happiness streamed down their cheeks when they met me. A similar incident relating to my father, the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, came to my mind.

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The incident related to a family from Narasaraopet. It was at his behest that a child, Ishrath, underwent a cochlear implant surgery under Arogyasri. This was in the early days of this pioneering health care initiative. It was like a rebirth to this child and her grateful parents came to his memorial in Idupulapaya to pay their respects on the occasion of his anniversary. Their gratitude was something deeply touching. It is experiences like these which give joy and satisfaction in life and inspire us to work spiritedly with greater dedication.

Dr Muralichand suggested a few measures to make cochlear implant more effective and accessible. He said that there was a need to moderate the prices of surgical instruments required to carry out this surgery. He also said that it would help if the government encouraged manufacturing of these equipment locally using technology. He also said the physically challenged could benefit only if Arogyasri, which is weakened under Chandrababu regime is given teeth. I assured him that I would do my best to implement his suggestions.

Every mother today wishes for Special Category Status as she believes that it can secure the future generation. A tender coconut seller Chinalaxmi has managed to get her kids admitted into a B.Tech course. She is very upset by the theatrics played by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the SCS issue. She says: "Anna, we have not seen even a single industry here in all these four years. No employment opportunities. I am worried about the kids' future. Special Category Status will not only ensure jobs but also secure the future of our kids. Anna, you must get SCS for our sake." These words strengthened my resolve to work towards SCS with more conviction. It's unfortunate and sad that the present government is unmoved by the plight of our fellow citizens. A leader who truly cares for his people would not compromise on state’s interest for his selfish gains.

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I have a poser for our chief minister. Each time your mistakes are pointed out, you describe it as an attack on people. You resorted to corruption to fulfill your selfish goals without sparing a thought for the public. But you were caught red-handed in your act. You mortgaged the interests of the state fearing cases and arrest. How fair is it to make people scapegoats for your misdeeds? Why should they bear the brunt of your sins?