Congress corrupt to the core, says Chiru

The Praja Rajyam chief makes an attempt to compare himself with N.T. Rama Rao

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Poor response to Chiru’s meetings in some pockets

PRP chief reiterates party’s promises to people

Hitting out at the Congress Government at the several meetings he addressed in Gudivada constituency on Thursday, the third and final day of the first phase of roadshows in Krishna district, Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was “sending suitcases filled with currency” to his party leadership in New Delhi to win a pat from them.

The day’s roadshows began at Ballapadu village and passed through Kalingapeta, Nandiwada, Gudivada and Gudlavalleru.

At the meetings as well as the press conference he addressed earlier, Mr. Chiranjeevi sought to draw a parallel between TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao, who represented the constituency in the Assembly, and himself. He, however, evaded a direct reply when asked whether he would fill up the gap created by NTR’s demise. Mr. Chiranjeevi merely said that it was a coincidence that the ideology of NTR and his own was one and the same. “Gudivada gave a new dimension to politics in the State, let’s repeat the history,” he said. Raavi Venkateswara Rao, the party candidate from the constituency, accompanied him throughout.

Though there was poor response to the meetings he addressed in the interior areas of Gudivada constituency, the crowds swelled as he reached the town, where a massive gathering waited for him.

Even while criticising the government’s programmes and the alleged corruption in execution of Jalayagnam, Mr. Chiranjeevi reiterated his party’s promises to farmers, middle class, students and women.

He asserted that thousands of crores of rupees had been spent on irrigation projects but without a vision. There were many districts and places in the State, including Gudivada, that had scarcity of drinking water. “You are surrounded by water, but the government has failed to quench your thirst. What’s the use of Jalayagnam?” he questioned.

Mr. Chiranjeevi also blamed the Rajasekhara Reddy Government for not being to utilise natural resources available in the State. While the Gujarat government was reaping the benefits of natural gas available here, the State government remained a mute spectator. The Praja Rajyam would seriously look into this and supply cooking gas at just Rs.100 a refill.

The matinee idol-turned-politician hit out at the government on the issue of price rise and “failure to ensure minimum support price of Rs.1,000 a quintal to paddy”.

Reacting to the criticism that the Praja Rajyam would wind up welfare schemes if voted to power, Mr. Chiranjeevi asserted that welfare schemes would be continued more energetically until there were no hunger deaths. But corruption in welfare schemes would be checked and loopholes plugged to better the lives of the poor and the downtrodden.