Financial crunch forced non-implementation of 9-hour power promise: Botsa

Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana on Saturday admitted that 9-hour free supply of power and six kg rice distribution was not implemented in 2009 because of financial crisis on account of global meltdown.

The Minister pointed out that in 2004, as soon as Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy took over as the chief minister, he had signed the 7-hour free power supply and to the poor and the following day the relevant GO was issued.

In 2009, when the Congress returned to power the YSR government had announced the free 9-hour power supply and enhancement of rice supply from 4 kg to 6 kg to the poor but the GO on these promises did not come out.

Rebutting former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s charge that the Congress had not implemented the promises made by late YSR in the 2009 election manifesto, Mr Satyanarayana told media persons at the Secretariat that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy could well check with YSR’s advisors as to why the relevant GO was not issued during his reign.

Clarifying further on this, the Minister said that it was due to global meltdown which had an adverse affect on the state financial position. "But we are examining the issue in right perspective and wait for a suitable occasion to implement it after discussions with the farmers and people,” Mr Saytanarayana said.

Stating that "we are the real successors to YSR," the Minister asked Mr Jaganmohan Reddy whether it is reasonable to pursue politics on late YSR’s concern for the poor and his schemes, thereby tarnishing his image.

Mr Saytanarayana said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy's newspaper and television channel were speaking against YSR. Jagan is not supposed to utilise his newspaper and channel for this purpose.

He also said that they (the Congress) were not afraid of his print and electronic medium instruments. The Minister questioned Mr Jaganmohan Reddy as to which scheme of YSR was stalled.

Referring to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy's hunger strike proposal, the Minister said that it has been a fashion that all and sundry were now indulging in taking up hunger strike to find favour with the farmers.

Referring to Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike, Mr Saytanarayana said that it was unfortunate that Mr Naidu took to stir to dramatise the entire situation when the farmers were suffering from an unprecedented losses due to the recent floods.

"I stand by my word," said the Minister, stating that the TDP leader was engaged in a drama and daydreaming of returning to power.

Stating that the CPI leaders AB Bardhan and Raja came to enquire about Naidu's health on the day the which the hunger strike began, he said if they came after two or three days later to see Naidu at his camp it was reasonable.