Why Is Fibre Grid Being Thrust Upon Unwilling People, Chandrababu?  

Unduru, East Godavari District: Today, my Padayatra proceeded through Atchampeta, Gonchala and Unduru in Peddapuram constituency. People everywhere told me about the atrocities being committed by TDP leaders and the abject neglect by the government.

Youth from Peddapuram told me that there was a 111 year old historic building in the place in which an RTO office is housed, a building which reminds us of Alluri Sitarama Raju. When attempts were being made by TDP leaders to demolish this historic building, people rose in protest and stopped the move, they pointed out. The deputy chief minister himself had given an assurance to protect the building, they said. However, even his assurance is being ignored, they complained. On learning that the matter was reaching courts, there were attempts to demolish it overnight, resulting in partial damage to the building, they said.

They pointed out that another deputy chief minister, who was also the home minister, was behind this demolition move. It makes one wonder what kind of rulers we have when the demolition of a historic building has the indirect support of the home minister who is urging officials to do it secretly at night, like robbers. Instead of conserving our heritage for the benefit of future generations, these rulers themselves are trying to act against popular sentiment pulling down historic structures. This is yet another disturbing aspect of TDP governance.

Representatives of cable TV operators association exposed the diabolical motives of the TDP government and the corruption associated with it. They revealed the true face of what lay behind the ruling party’s trumpeting of the AP fibre grid project. The government of India had initiated the Digital India project to ensure that broad band networks reach the remotest of hamlets in the country to help students and villagers. The underlying idea was to enable the villagers to have access to free internet and e-governance.

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In the name of fibre grid project, the TDP government brought its own selfish interests into play to control cable operators and media. It did so with the malafide intention of using them in elections, they pointed out.

“The TDP government is trying to shove the fibre grid project down the throats of unwilling people,“ they said. “It is forcing us to go in for fibre grid, threatening us and instilling fear in us,“ they complained. They added, “The only motive of the government is to use this fibre grid as a propaganda tool in the upcoming elections."

The minute the fibre grid TV is switched on, Chandrababu, his son and grandson pop up on TV screens. There is no escape from this for the viewer. It is unfortunate that an educational facility which should have been of use to the people and youth, has been converted into a propaganda machine by the TDP, said the representatives of cable TV operators Association. A government which cannot win the hearts of the people through its welfare schemes and governance will resort to any dubious means and methods, as this instance reveals.

I have a question for the chief minister — you had bragged that people would enjoy access to AP fibre grid with triple play service at Rs.149. Why are users being billed Rs. 234.80? Why is your government reluctant to share details of GST? What is the motive behind fibre grid being thrust upon unwilling people?