CM launches Indiramma Kalalu

Faces hurdles in Anantapuram Kadapa/Anantapuram: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy Saturday's visit to Kadapa to launch 'Indiramma Kalalu' programme went off smoothly but the launching of this programme at Anantapuram faced several hurdles. In the wake of the opposition parties planning to oppose CM tour, police arranged heavy security and took several leaders into custody as a precautionaryA measure. After inaugurating the programme at Kadapa, the Chief Minister said the funds meant for SCs and STs are not reaching the real beneficiaries in the State and the situation is same in the entire country. To ensure justice to SCs and STs and to make the use of funds in a right manner, the SC and ST sub-plan has been introduced, he explained. "This scheme was introduced so that the fruits of development reach all the SCs and STs. In the present year, more than Rs 8,000 crores for SCs and Rs 3,000 crores for STs will be spent for their education, health, development of their residential areas, roads, provision of drinking water, animal husbandry and other such needs," Kiran Kumar Reddy said. The CM launched the same programme at Madakasira in Anantapuram district on Saturday, which was presided over by Anantapuram MLA Sudhakar. Later, speaking at the public meeting, he said 22.08 % of budget funds will be expended for the development of SCs and STs. CM showered boons to the people of Madakasira. He assured of providing PG Centre, 220 KV power sub-station in Madakasira, Rs 2 crores to develop the Ambedkar Bhavan in Anantapuram and developing Skill Centre to the youth to get employment opportunities. Criticising Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu as giving more importance to walking instead of sub-plan, Kiran Kumar Reddy pointed out that they have allotted more than Rs 4,027 crores to BC this year while TDP during its 10 years's tenure allotted only Rs 1,580 crores. Congress has introduced 'Amma Hastam' to provide nine essential commodities for Rs 185 while TDP has shown 'Mondi Hastam' (empty hand), he ridiculed. As a part of the programme, Kiran toured Haresamudram and interacted with the women of SC Colony. Ministers Raghuveera Reddy, Pithani Satyanarayana, Pasupuleti Balaraju, Sailajanath and in-charge Minister Ganta Srinivas, District Collector Durgadas and other higher officials took part in the programme.

TD leaders under house arrest Anantapuram: District police put TDP MLA Palle Raghunath Reddy, MLC Samantakamani, polit bureau member Kaluva Srinivasulu, general secretary Vardapuram Suryanarayana and other leaders under house arrest. They had gone to meet TDP district president BK Parthasaradhi here on Saturday morning and later they were shifted to One Town Police Station. Parthasaradhi criticised the incident as reminding of the emergency period. He alleged that the police denied them permission even after explaining that they were going to meet the CM only to explain the present situation in the district. Meanwhile, police obstructed TDP MLA Paritala Sunita, who was going to meet the CM to submit a memorandum on the problems prevailing in the district.