Telangana Congress leaders paid rich tributes to former CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajashekhar Reddy on his 73rd birth anniversary today.
Telangana Congress leaders paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajashekhar Reddy on his 73rd birth anniversary on Friday.
TPCC President & MP Revanth Reddy, CLP Leader Bhatti Vikramarka, former MP K V P Ramchandra Rao, former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir and other senior leaders paid floral tributes to Dr Reddy at his statue at Panjagutta.
Speaking on the occasion, the Congress leaders recalled the services rendered by YSR to the society and the Congress.
Revanth Reddy said that YSR had turned Andhra Pradesh into the No 1 State in the country by treating welfare and development as his two eyes, and that he would remain in the hearts of the people for being a leader who kept his words and promises.
He recalled that YSR had implemented welfare schemes like fee reimbursement, Arogyasri and 4% reservation for Muslims, and created infrastructure landmarks like the Outer Ring Road, the Shanshabad international airport and the Hyderabad Metro Rail project.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that YSR was not amid them now to counter the conspiracies of CM K Chandrashekar Rao and PM Narendra Modi against the Congress.
Shabbir Ali said similar things. Describing YSR as a visionary leader who had made a permanent place for himself in the people's hearts with his leadership and service, he said that YSR had set new benchmarks for development and welfare by introducing schemes like scholarships, fee reimbursement, free power for farmers, Aarogyasri and others.
He also said that the 4% Muslim reservation, which was implemented by the then YSR government in 2004, had so far benefited over 20 lakh poor Muslims.
He said that all communities, including SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and other weaker sections, had witnessed prosperity and growth during the YSR regime.
He added that YSR also facilitated the creation of a huge infrastructure in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, especially Hyderabad. Besides constructing several irrigation projects as part of Jala Yagnam, YSR implemented mega projects like the international airport at Shamshabad, the 160-km Outer Ring Road, the Metro Rail and 11-km PVNR Expressway among others. The YSR-led Congress government also brought the Godavari river waters to Hyderabad keeping in view the drinking water needs for the next 20-30 years, Shabbir Ali claimed.
The infrastructure created during the YSR regime had turned Hyderabad into a preferred destination for investments, and global companies still preferred Hyderabad over other cities in the country due to the excellent infrastructure, Shabbir Ali said.
Shabbir Ali added that he had the privilege of being a member of the YSR cabinet of 2004-2009. "As a cabinet colleague and the Hyderabad in-charge minister, I had closely observed the visionary approach of YSR towards development and welfare," he said.