Will Take Up Polavaram Project: Jagan

In a fervent appeal to them to reject opportunist politics and parties that would be puppets in the hands of the Centre, YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy asked the people of Vatluru (West Godavari district) to elect a Party that would have a say in Delhi, and will be focused on development and welfare.

He assured them that the Polavaram project would be taken up by his government after coming to power.

Addressing a huge gathering in the town on Sunday, he made the following speech (excerpts):

"Modi has been asking you to vote for Naidu, which means that it is obvious that the State will be subservient to Delhi. I am appealing you to vote for the Telugu pride, where we will have our say at the Centre and get funds for our State's development.

"Vote for the YSRCP's fan symbol, and along with the 11 promises that I have made, I will also complete the Polavaram project besides the Chinthalapudi irrigation project.

"YSR took a bold initiative on the Kolleru lake issue in 2008, and I promise you that I will take up the issue in the first session of the Assembly. I have inherited from YSR the quality of not going back on a word given, while Chandrababu Naidu is known for not keeping up his promises.

"The elections are fast approaching, and you have to make up your minds, and the choice is between jumping jacks like Chandrababu Naidu, who has aligned with every party for the sake of votes and seats, and the legacy of YSR that is being carried forward by our Party. I appeal to you to vote for the YSRCP's fan symbol to keep the Telugu pride flying high and to enable us to command a proper place at the Centre instead of being submissive to Delhi's dictates.

"YSR defined credibility and honesty with his deeds, and his ideals are being followed by the YSRCP. Naidu on the other hand has never been sincere throughout his political career.

"The governments before and after YSR have taxed you a lot while YSR showed how a welfare state should be run and became the model Chief Minister in the country. I swear that I continue to work in his footsteps.

"Before YSR, the 9-year period of Chandrababu Naidu was a dark age where welfare was at a premium. Medicare and education drove people to indebtedness. Pensions and housing were meager and on a quota system. He went back on the TDP's poll promises and increased the price of rice from Rs. 2 a kg rice to Rs. 5.25, lifted prohibition, and encouraged belt shops.

"With the elections coming, he has come with a new set of promises of free cell phones and TVs, and is fooling farmers and women by promising waiver of loans which is impossible.

"The arithmetic is simple. The bankers' meeting has concluded that the agricultural loans work out to Rs. 1.27 lakh crores, and that the DWACRA loans amount to over Rs. 20,000 crores, aggregating to Rs. 1.50 lakh crores.

"The TDP leader is promising to waive off such a whopping amount unmindful that the state budget is just Rs. 1.25 crores. It is impossible to deliver on his promise. He is aiming to lure voters with impossible promises. Plus, waiver of loans is a Central subject, and is not in the purview of the State Government.

"This is the deception of Chandrababu Naidu. He speaks of impossible tasks that sound good but cannot be implemented, and people should beware of such promises and the leader who has a dubious past of breaking all his promises.

"On the day I assume power, I will sign the 5 files and take up the 6 issues which I have been promising, to change the course of the State.

"These apart, I will also take up the Polavaram project and complete it. The Chinthalapudi irrigation project which provides water to 2 lakh acres in the area was ignored by the Congress government after YSR's death. The Kolleru issue will also be taken up in the first session of the Assembly.

I appeal to you to vote for YSRCP's fan symbol ensuring victory to all our 25 MPs, which will in turn help in Delhi being obedient to us and not the other way round." (INN)