YS Jagan Padayatra: Vizianagaram Celebrates 3000 Km Milestone

Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly and YSR Congress party Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed a massive public meeting at Kothavalsa in Srungavarapukota constituency in Vizianagaram district as part of his Praja Sankalpa Yatra.

Earlier in the day, YS Jagan crossed the 3,000 km mark in his padayatra at Desapatrunipalem, where he had inaugurated a pylon here on the occasion.

The people's leader began his speech by expressing his condolences to the family members of Araku MLA Sarveswara Rao, who, along with former MLA Soma, was killed by Maoists in Visakhapatnam district yesterday.

Recalling the memories of his journey from Idupulapaya in YSR Kadapa to Kothavalasa in the district, YS Jagan said that he had always had faith in God's blessings and people's support in the initial days of Praja Sankalpa Yatra. He added that he never had any second-thoughts about completing the state-wide padayatra.

"In S.Kota constituency, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has been elected to power for 30 years except in 2004. But, not even 3 significant developmental works have been done for the welfare of the locals. The Raiwada reservoir and Thatiguda lift irrigation project in Vepada Mandal serve the needs of Visakhapatnam's industrial corridor," he said explaining the issues faced by the locals. The solution to the irrigation problems is only possible if Polavaram project project is completed, he added.

The YSRCP Chief recalled that in late Chief Minister Dr Rajasekhara Reddy's Rajanna Rajyam, the project works had been progressing on a war footing. In Chandrababu's rule, work is progressing at snail's speed, as the farmers await water in distress, he said. "Chandrababu has a habit of playing a gimmick every time he visits the Polavaram project. Recently, the TDP Chief turned the inspection of Polavaram project into a family trip. The reason for the delay in the completion of the project lies in the fact that Chandrababu gave away the sub-contracts to his benamis for higher rates," he added.

YS Jagan said that the Bheemisingi sugar factory, which was reeling in Rs 18 crore losses in Chandrababu's rule in 2004, was saved from closing down by Dr YSR. Chandrababu completely ignoring the interests of the co-operative societies, he said. He promised to save the factory, which was running at a loss of Rs 43 crore, by providing financial support and incentives.

The Leader of Opposition observed that despite the district possessing a good railway network and sea ports, no progress was made with respect to jobs and industries in the last four years. During Rajanna Rajyam, Sharada steels, Goldstar steels, Mahamaya industries etc were set up, providing employment to 5000 people, he said.

"In last four years, not even a single factory has been set up in the district. To add to it, the existing jute mills are being closed down. Since 30 years, the TDP leaders have been promising to build a 30-bed hospital and a degree college in the constituency but none of the TDP MLAs lived up to their word. The local MLA, who owns a junior college in Kothavalasa, is not in favour of bringing a government junior college at L.Kota. Not even a Rythu Bazaar has been built in the last four years. The region is famous for its savoury, the Mango Thaanda. But, the local leaders have not even responded to a demand for a cold storage facility," YS Jagan said to the public.

Chandrababu Naidu promised to build an 18 km road from S Kota to Anandapuram in 2014. In addition to failing to fulfil the promise, the TDP leaders are involved in making crores of rupees with their sand mafia in the Neeru-Chettu program.

"Dr. YSR brought welfare schemes like Arogyasri, 108 ambulance, 104 ambulance, fees reimbursement. He was responsible for building 48 lakh houses, which is equal to all the houses built across the country during the period. With Jalayagnam, Dr YSR transformed agriculture into a festival. The Rs 2 kg rice, pensions, land distribution to the poor, bank loans and loan waivers were implemented successfully during Rajanna Rajyam. But, Chandrababu's rule is marked by farmer suicides, failure of the mid-day meal program and the harrassment of women’s cooperative societies with loan repayment notices," he explained.

Reacting to Chandrababu's claim of getting an award for Ease of Doing Business in the State, the YSRCP Chief said that the public exchequer had a burden of Rs 2.5 lakh crore. He observed that the industries were getting electricity supply at a rate of Rs 8.50, Rs 5 more than the Rs 3.50 power tarriff during Dr. YSR's rule.

The people's leader explained to the public the benefits of YSR Asara and YSR Cheyootha, the pension schemes under YSRCP Navaratnas.

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