Going Back On Commitments Is Second Nature To Chandrababu  

Annavaram, Visakhapatnam District: The Padayatra went past Anakapalle this morning and entered Chodavaram. People belonging to Gandhavaram, Venkannapalem and Narsapuram narrated their problems to me. The partisan, discriminatory attitude of the TDP leaders was evident in these villages.  As for the harassment of the commoners by Janmabhoomi committees, it knew no bounds and they seemed to transgress all limits.  All welfare schemes had been completely diluted.  Villages where the panchayats were headed by opposition parties were denied funds and whenever these villages try to implement a welfare scheme impediments were placed at every step.

Who suffers at the end of the day when development work is not done?  Is it not the common citizen? Why are the TDP rulers vengeful towards the poor? The most inhuman example of this discrimination came to light when I learnt about the stoppage of pension to a visually impaired person and a bed-ridden physically challenged individual after this TDP government came to power. These helpless individuals had to go to court seeking justice! Two others, who were physically challenged, attempted to commit suicide, I was told. How cruel is it to make these suffering disabled fight for their basic rights? What level of inhumanity is this?

From what the Narsapuram Sarpanch told me, I gathered that the stories of loot by the ruling TDP, were the same across the state. Bills were submitted thrice for work done just once with respect to the lake here and the same pattern was followed in 70 other lakes. The soil was carted away and sold. I crossed the river Sarada on the way. People belonging to Gajapathinagarm and Govada told me that even this river was not spared. Sand on the banks of the Sarada was excavated and sold by the leaders of the ruling party. Have they spared any lake, river or water body in the state? Venkannapalem is the nodal point for 13 villages here and the people here have for many years been pleading for a Primary Health Centre. Their demand is just one indeed, because it would benefit more than 20,000 people.  Chandrababu Naidu promised them twice that he would set up a PHC. The TDP government is coming to its last days and yet, there is no sign of a PHC here. Elections are round the corner and it would come as no surprise if Chandrababu Naidu promises setting it again. After all, it is in his nature to make commitments and go back on them.

In the evening, the Padayatra went past Govada Sugar factory, which is the biggest in the state. This famous unit which was once in high profit zone under my father’s rule, is today sinking into losses under Chandrababu Naidu. During his previous tenure, Chandrababu had tried to pump it off to his proxies at a throwaway price. Once again, is up to the same strategy and has driven a profit-making factory into losses. Chandrababu likes to call himself a CEO of the state and what is alarming is that he is doing to the state resources the havoc he is wreaking upon sugar factories.

I was deeply shaken by the suicide of a farmer in Kurnool because of lack of support price for the onion crop and any help from the state government. Yesterday it was a young man who took his own life demanding special category status to Andhra Pradesh, while today it is a farmer seeking a reasonable price for his produce. This is the outcome of a four and a half year-old reign by a government which has depended purely on deception and betrayal.

I have a question for the chief minister — is it not rank injustice to drive sugar factories which have been running profitably for decades and on whose functioning thousands of families depend, into losses for your own selfish objectives?

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