Chandrababu’s White Paper: A Tissue Of Lies

Rangadi Ghati Cross, Srikakulam district: My Padayatra proceeded through Meliyaputti mandal where there was no sign of any progress. Along every step of the way, local tribals narrated their problems to me. Villagers of Chapara told me that the ruling party leaders backed adulterators of manure, fertilizers for fields and food substances. Their lives were torn between the devastation caused by the cyclone and adulterated food and fertilizers. They said that adulterated food was taking a toll on their lives. Yet, officials remained indifferent to their plight, they complained. They said that this adulteration activity which was taking place in the bordering areas of Odisha was rooted in the support of TDP leaders.

Hence, no official paid attention to it, they lamented. It is ridiculous on the part of Chandrababu Naidu to describe Andhra Pradesh as Ananda Andhra Pradesh when his leaders are hand in glove with adulterators playing with the lives of common citizens.

After listening to girl students describe the sorry state of affairs of the Zilla Parishad school in Chapara, I could once again see the extent to which Chandrababu Naidu had destroyed the education system in the state, putting the future of the students on the line. Board exams are two months away and these students have not as yet, received the social studies text books. Students of class VIII have not yet got their Science text books. "How do we study and write the exams, Anna?" those innocent girls asked me. What answer does the TDP government have to this query? Isn't the government squarely responsible for the performance of students or their failure? This was the genuine question posed by the girl students.

As my Padayatra moved through tribal areas, I could see that these villages had been completely neglected by the TDP government. Development was nowhere to be seen. Problems of all kinds plagued the region. Among the worst hit are the elderly—as the experience of a 70 year-old widow, Janakamma of Chapara reveals. She would be content with either old age or widow pension, she said. Sadly, she was denied both, she lamented.

Yandamma of Patamarudukota went around government offices for widow pension several times without success. There was no official she did not plead with. Yalamanchili Ammulamma had an even more shocking tale to narrate. The pensions of 80 eligible innocent villagers were withdrawn out of sheer spite, she revealed. They had to seek legal help to get them restored which the government was forced to after being rapped on the knuckles by the Court. However, things were back to square one, three months after the pensions were restored. How unjust is it to compel poor villagers to go to court for what is rightfully theirs.

I have a question for the chief minister—your white paper claims that welfare schemes have been rolled out to all eligible people, without discriminating against anyone. In Srikakulam district alone, where my Padayatra is in progress and in just Ponduru mandal the pensions of 900 people were withdrawn purely out of political vengeance and discrimination. Is this not a fact? Is it not true that only after the Court reprimanded your government were you forced to restore these pensions? Have you forgotten these facts? Does your so-called White Paper contain a grain of truth?

Also Read: Chandrababu’s White Paper Mirrors His Double Talk