Lok Satta Wants Changes To T Bill

The Working Committee of the state Lok Satta Party began its two-day session in Hyderabad today to finalize its stand on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill 2013, coming up for discussion in the Legislature on January 3.

The Working Committee is considering amendments the party should move to the Bill to safeguard the interests of the three regions in the state. It is also discussing alternative solutions like carving out Rayalaseema also as a separate state and extending it special economic status provided to most backward states.

state Lok Satta Party president Katari Srinivasa Rao said, in a media statement, that the Working Committee is discussing the present political crisis in the state caused by the "bankrupt policies of traditional parties".

"Since a solution to the crisis lies only in alternative politics, the Lok Satta Party will draw up an action program to emerge as an alternative political force," he said.

The Working Committee reviewed the campaign launched by the party on December 21 on Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, the liquor menace and drinking water problems. Leaders who took part in the program reported that the plight of poor and middle class families who have fallen victim to the liquor menace is worse then imagined by them.

Reportedly, there are women who have become widows at a young age because of their spouses' liquor addiction. "Field trials showed that bacteria are present in drinking water at many places. Even as the trials were under way, about 100 people of Malkapuram in Visakhapatnam fell ill because of drinking contaminated water. The Working Committee felt that programs on the three issues should be taken up on a wider scale," said the leaders. (INN)