Release white paper on Polavaram, YS Sharmila demands AP CM Naidu

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila has demanded a white paper from Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on the Polavaram Irrigation Project and a blueprint on the other projects like Kadapa steel plant.

Speaking to the media persons at Andhra Ratna Bhavan here on Wednesday, Sharmila said that in 2004, former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR) had begun the construction of the Polavaram Irrigation Project with an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore. In 2014, after Chandrababu Naidu came to power, the project cost was escalated to Rs 29,000 crore. Consequently, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) which came to power in 2019 delayed the completion of the project through reverse tendering process, she said, and demanded Naidu to explain the reasons for the delay in completion of 25 percent of the works when 75 percent of the project works were completed between 2014-19.

Naidu should mount pressure on NDA Govt for special category status

The APCC president said that Andhra Pradesh is lagging behind on all fronts and Naidu should come out with a plan of action to streamline all the sectors. “It is a great opportunity for the TDP to mount pressure on the BJP-led NDA at the Centre to keep up its promise of a special category status to the state as promised by Narendra Modi during a public meeting at Tirupati in 2014. The NDA government at the Centre was formed for the third consecutive term with the support of the TDP as the BJP lacked its own majority. Narendra Modi should also realise that he is in power because of the Andhra Pradesh people. At least now, even after a decade, Naidu should pressurise the NDA government for special category status and get funds for the completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project,” Sharmila demanded.

Naidu should deliver ‘Super Six’ promise

Reacting to the Super Six promises of the TDP, Sharmila said that Naidu should provide clarity on the implementation of the schemes like free bus travel for women, Rs 15,000 to every school-going child per annum, three free cooking gas cylinders to every household per year and Rs 20,000 annual financial assistance to every farmer, among others. “We are going to chase Naidu to keep up his poll promises as there is no time for a honeymoon period for him. The Congress party will play a constructive opponent rule in the state and emerge as a strong force by 2029 in the state,” she said.

People in AP voted decisively with vengeance for a change

Commenting on the election results in the state, the APCC president said that the Assembly and Parliament elections were held unpredictably and unprecedentedly in the state. People took a decision precisely– ‘For Jagan and Against Jagan’ in the state, and they voted against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy decisively with vengeance for a change, she said. “We have got feedback one month before the elections that the Congress has 6 to 7 percent vote share in the state. We exuded confidence that the party would achieve an 8 percent vote share. However, the people voted for the TDP-BJP-Jana Sena alliance expecting a change,” Sharmila added.

Time factor for my defeat in Kadapa

On her defeat as the MP from Kadapa Lok Sabha, Sharmila said, “Time is a major factor for my defeat in Kadapa. I campaigned for only 14 days in Kadapa. The rest of the time, I campaigned across the state. I didn't cover the entire geographical area in Kadapa and the majority of the people are unaware of my candidature.” Sharmila also alleged that Rs 3,500 per vote was given in Kadapa for her defeat and, moreover, the YSRCP threatened the people with filing cases and cancelling the welfare schemes. All these factors played a crucial role in her defeat, she added.

BJP a communal party

The APCC president said that the BJP is a communal party and this was proved again with the Manipur incident. The BJP’s majority in the Centre was reduced due to its atrocities. The Saffron party had even lacked power and was dependent on other parties to form the government, she said, and added that Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi helped the INDIA block to reduce the majority of the BJP at the Centre. Reacting to YS Jagan’s suggestion of conducting elections through paper ballots, the APCC president said that intellectuals and the Supreme Court should decide whether EVMs or paper ballots are better to protect democracy in the country.