November 23, Veldurthi, Kurnool District:

Hordes of people joined me on Thursday morning as I set out on my padayatra from Narsapuram Crossroad in Veldurthi mandal of Pattikonda assembly constituency. They narrated their problems at length, as they walked shoulder to shoulder with me. The news that farmers had tried to end their lives in Vijayawada has left me shell-shocked. I spoke to them over phone and appealed to them not to lose heart. I assured them of all help once the People's Government comes to power.

The TDP MLAs and Ministers are involved in rackets of spurious seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and are being backed to the hilt by their supremo. All this is hitting the morale of the farmers and is driving them towards suicide. This has to change. Farmers deserve to be treated royally for their toil. Our government will ensure this change.

Even as I began my padayatra, Akshaya Gold victims met me at Naraspuram Crossroads. Suresh Babu, an agent, cried bitterly explaining his plight. He said though the courts have ordered that Akshaya Gold's assets be sold and the proceeds be distributed among the victims, the Government has not done anything. I asked him to remain patient for one year. Once the People's Government is formed, justice would be done, I assured him.

How can a common man survive if the hard earned money saved for his family's future needs and children's education simply vanishes because of greedy looters such as these? What will happen to the agents who collected the money on behalf of the company and are now left in the lurch? There are over 19 lakh victims of Akshaya Gold and AgriGold. If the government is sincere and honest, it can provide relief to 13.8 lakh families by allocating just Rs 1182 crore. But, the Government is not doing anything. All it does is make empty and perfunctory statements that the guilty would be punished and justice would be done.

I have a question for Chandrababu Naidu. Why are you so spiteful towards the farming community? Is it because the farmers adore YSR? Are you confident that the steps you took so far will provide succour and relief to them? Aren't the measures you took so far on this issue a mere eyewash? Is it not a fact that the the guilty enjoy your support?