Press Releases Archive

Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan’s address to the joint session of the State Legislature is deeply disappointing in that it reflected neither introspection nor direction, commented Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Lok Satta Party President and MLA from Kukatpally.

The Governor went through the Constitutional ritual and indulged in sheer escapism by not touching upon many grave issues confronting the State, added Dr. JP.

The Lok Satta leader pointed out that although Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the epicenter of corruption going by the number of CBI and ACB raids in the recent past, the Governor does not even acknowledge it as a problem, leave alone indicate what his Government plans to do about it. There is not even a cursory acknowledgment of the liquor mafia bribing Ministers, legislators, bureaucrats and media as revealed by ACB raids. The Governor is silent on the Telangana problem which has been agitating all the regions of the State. Although passions might have subsided, concerns remain very much. Yet, the Governor does not talk of empowering people and engendering confidence among them.

Dr. JP faulted the Governor for maintaining eloquent silence on the recent Supreme Court judgment on allocation of 2G spectrum and all other natural resources in a petition filed by the Lok Satta and others. The Lok Satta Party, he recalled, had exposed the State Government’s capricious allotment of vast tracts of coastal areas to private parties to such an extent that it could not provide a suitable site for a shipbuilding proposed by the Union Government.

Dr. JP said the Governor does not acknowledge the crisis in the agriculture sector. The State Government has not been able to ensure the minimum support price for a number of crops and does not bother even to announce the State advised price (SAP) for sugarcane. The Federation of Independent Farmers’ Associations (FIF) is organizing a Dandi-like march from Andhra Pradesh to Karnatka to defy the law which prevents farmers from marketing paddy/rice outside the State.

Referring to the parlous state of the healthcare sector, Dr. JP said that even teaching hospitals are going without intravenous fluids like dextrose and saline and material for carrying out urine sugar tests. Educational standards in schools have plummeted going by annual surveys. Many parts of the State capital are reeling under severe water shortage even as the entire countryside is going without power. Yet, the Governor would not say what the Government proposes to do.

Dr. JP said the State’s claim of being fiscally responsible is hollow going by the Principal Accountant General’s report. The Union Government withdrew the Rs.703 crore it falsely claimed as incentive under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act in 2008-09. During 2009-10, the State once again claimed to have conformed to Central fiscal guidelines by halting all deposit transactions.

The Governor’s address comes as a deep disappointment, said Dr. JP.

During the budget session of the Legislative Assembly beginning from February 13, the Lok Satta Party will focus its attention on the liquor policy, relief to the crisis-ridden farmer, elections to local bodies and resolution of issues raised by various sections.

In a media statement, Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma appealed to all parties to help facilitate a thorough discussion on the issues.

Mr. Varma said that all parties should join hands in getting the present liquor policy, which has spawned a politics-dictating liquor mafia, changed. All the members transcending their party barriers should ensure that justice is done to farmers. Farmers have not been able to get even the minimum support price whatever crop they raise. The Government would not allow them to market paddy and rice outside the State. The members should exert pressure on the Government and ensure elections to municipalities and panchayat raj bodies take place. The ruling party, rocked by corruption scams and internal fights, has deferred the elections fearing defeat. The Assembly should also help resolve issues over which a number of sections are on the warpath as governance has come to a standstill because of party politics.

Mr. Varma demanded that the Government do away with special and discretionary funds being allocated to the Chief Minister and MLAs and utilize them for priority sectors. The priorities in the forthcoming budget should shift from extending temporary sops to making people self-reliant. It should allocate funds for ensuring quality education, healthcare and skills to all, baling out agriculture from crisis, and rejuvenating industry. Local governments should be empowered with devolution of funds and powers.

Mr. Varma appealed to all parties to pass the budget only after a thorough discussion.