YS Jagan Padayatra: 300 Days Another Historic Milestone

Y. Satyanarayana

Today marks yet another milestone in Praja Sankalpa Yatra, led by the Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly and YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The historic Padayatra which is currently in Vizianagaram district after coursing through Dr. YSR Kadapa district, Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor, Sri Pottisriramulu Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts, has touched a memorable milestone of 300 days. YS Jagan's mass outreach programme has struck a chord with the masses in all parts of the state.

As much as the YSR Congress party chief endeared himself to the needy and the deprived, cutting across all castes and communities everywhere, his connect with the people has clearly unnerved the ruling Telugu Desam party leaders. YS Jagan pointed out in his mammoth public meeting in Parvathipuram on Saturday breaking his silence on the murder attempt on him at Visakhapatnam airport on October 25, that the AP Chief Minister and TDP supremo, Chandrababu Naidu was behind the attack. The YSRCP chief said the conspiracy to eliminate him showed the depths to which Chandrababu can stoop. Apart from moral degeneration and decadence in public life, the murder attempt goes to prove the fear which has gripped the ruling party leaders at the highest levels, senior YSR Congress party leaders have also pointed out.

It is against such odds that YS Jagan has battled on his long march from Idupulapaya in Dr. YSR Kadapa district from where he started on November 06, 2017 to Vizianagaram district today. Along every step of the way, the aged and the infirm, the hungry and the deprived, have been rushing to him seeking redress. Invariably, YS Jagan has been lending a patient ear to every single complainant seeking help, to every admirer who sought to show a souvenir or ask for a selfie, and to every follower who wanted a moment with his leader. He continues to do so along every step of his walkathon as it touches 300 days today, and will do so when it concludes at Ichhapuram.

YS Jagan has interacted closely with the people of the state everywhere and has addressed several public meetings in each district. One only has take a cursory glance to see for oneself the crowds he has been attracting on this walkathon. Each rally he has addressed has been teeming with people. Every single interaction with large groups, packed with people articulating their concerns. The scene along the road has been no different. Groups of farmers, men and women, rushing from fields to greet him, students, villagers, young and old men and women walking alongside him briskly and others, thronging the highway to catch a glimpse of their leader. The picture of YS Jagan marching on the Godavari bridge accompanied by a sea of humanity was a sight for the Gods!

In YS Jagan they see a reflection of his father, late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who strove to ameliorate their condition and whose contribution to the state they recall with touching fondness. The problems people are plagued with are the same everywhere--missing healthcare facilities, lack of employment opportunities to educated youth, fee reimbursement not being done for students or being hopelessly watered down, woeful lack of sanitation facilities, drinking water supply problems, widow pensions and old age pensions being denied, and many more such day to day problems.

People from Dr YSR Kadapa district to Vizianagaram district recall Dr YSR‘s rule as an exemplary one in contrast to the present TDP Government. They recollect how they benefited from his pioneering healthcare initiative, Arogyasri, how 108 and 104 ambulance services responded in quick time all across the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh, how students could focus on their education and prepare themselves for avenues of employment, thanks to his fee reimbursement scheme which was applied universally without any discrimination and was always promptly done. They recalled his concern for the farmer and how he had waived off farmers' loans as his first priority. They remember how he ensured 24 x 7 supply of electricity to farmers, as also the concern shown by Dr YSR for farmers and the people at large by initiating his flagship program, Jalayagnam.

In contrast, they point out to the despotic rule of Chandrababu Naidu, replete with corruption at all levels, dominated by Janmabhoomi committees in villages, sand mining mafias across the state which have looted every single grain of sand on lakebeds, riverbeds, ponds and any other water body they can sight. They hope and pray for this tyrannical regime to bite the dust and for the dawn of Rajanna Rajyam. They know that YS Jagan will live up to his promise of bringing in an accountable, efficient, transparent, honest government when the YSR Congress party comes to power soon. They know, predicated on Navarathnalu, it will transform their lives...

Also Read: YS Jagan Padayatra Day 300 in Pictures