Friday, November 25, 2011
Yuva Satta conferences in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram
Yuva Satta, Lok Satta Party's youth wing , is organizing youth conferences in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram on November 26 and 27 to get their feedback on Government programs like Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu and seek their suggestions. They will discuss all problems the youth are confronting, said
Yuva Satta President Potturi Sivaji Raju in a media statement.
Mr. Sivaji Raju said that the Yuva Satta is engaged in developing leaders from among the youth to fight for their problems.
Mr. Sivaji Raju announced that Mr. Veluru Ashok (30) an entrepreneur from Ananatapur, has been appointed State Vice President of the Yuva Satta.
Dr. JP addressing Young Indians' summit
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be the star speaker at the Young Indians' National Summit at Coimbatore tomorrow, November 26.
Young Indians (Yi) is an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India’s premier business association. The summit is the annual flagship event of Yi and attracts a large number of students, entrepreneurs and professionals. The theme of the summit this year is “Taking Charge – We Can, We Will.”
Through the summit, the members seek to connect themselves with people who have inspired our generation.
Dr. JP has been invited to the summit as his "personal background and involvement in public life are worth emulating."
Thursday, November 24, 2011
D. V. V. S. Varma's US visit
Lok Satta Party's State Working President D. V. V. S. Varma will be meeting party supporters and admirers in cities like San Francisco, Santiago, and Los Angeles in the next four weeks.
Mr. Varma left for the U. S. last night on a personal visit. Mrs. S. Manorama, his spouse and party leader, accompanied him.
Mrs. and Mr. Varma will be returning to Hyderabad on January 6, 2012.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
CM's performance a mixed bag, Says Lok Satta Party
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy deserves both bouquets and brickbats on the completion of one year in office, said the Lok Satta Party today.
In a media statement, Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao pointed out that although the Chief Minister has distinguished himself by launching a few people-oriented welfare and development schemes, he has failed to address some basic issues plaguing the State.
They welcomed the Chief Minister's Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, which seeks to provide training and employment to the unemployed youth, plan to provide interest-free loans to farmers and getting 14 F removed from the Presidential Order. They also hailed the Chief Minister's attempts to eradicate corruption at the grassroots level by launching 'Mee Seva' for issuance of certificates in a time-bound manner.
They, however, faulted the Chief Minister for failing to ensure remunerative prices for agricultural produce and warding off suicides among farmers. They took exception to the Chief Minister repeatedly deferring elections to local bodies and cooperative institutions, not attempting to improve education and healthcare facilities, and not taking steps to curb liquor consumption.
What is more glaring is that the Chief Minister has maintained studied silence on allegations of corruption against top politicians and bureaucrats.
The Lok Satta leaders hoped that the Chief Minister would focus on basic issues at least now.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Dr. JP welcomes FDI in Retail sector
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has said the Union Government move to permit foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector is “great news and long overdue”. It will benefit the farmer and the consumer, and stimulate the economy, Dr. JP said in a media statement issued here today.
The Union Cabinet is expected to approve the note prepared by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on allowing 51 percent FDI in the retail sector. The Union Finance Ministry has cleared the proposal.
Dr. JP said the fears that foreign retail chains will displace grocery stores and street vendors are misplaced. Experience the world over shows that foreign retail chains did not displace mom & pop stores.
“Retail trade grows faster than the economy in early stages. The new business goes to retail chains, leaving traditional vendors their share.”
Dr. JP recalled that sections of employees had opposed computerization of banks for decades saying it would lead to large-scale displacement of employees. “Now we know these fears had no basis.”
Dr. JP pointed out that under the present dispensation the farmer gets a low price for his produce even as the consumer pays a high price. Both the farmer and the consumer will gain with the advent of multi-brand retail chains.
“Now a farmer gets Rs.18 a kg for the rice he produces while a consumer pays Rs.30 – 35 a kg. A farmer gets only 35% of the consumer price of vegetables & fruits.
“Retail chains will remove middlemen, add value, eliminate wastage and shortages, ensure stable prices and help farmers and consumers. Let us shed fears and welcome FDI in the retail sector.”
Saturday, November 19, 2011
TN Lok Satta confident of Transforming politics
Tamil Nadu Lok Satta Party leaders today oozed confidence of bringing about a metamorphosis in Tamil Nadu politics in the next few years as the people are thirsting for a change in the dynastic and corrupt regimes in the State.
They were addressing media at the Lok Satta Party headquarters here. Lok Satta Party State Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao took part in the media conference.
The leaders, who are in Hyderabad on a three-day study visit to the party headquarters, recalled that most of the party activists in Tamil Nadu are aged below 35 years and hailed from the middle class with no political pedigree. The party which contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly and local body elections found that people were looking forward to an alternative to the deeply entrenched DMK and the AIAMK parties.
The Lok Satta with its slogan of new politics for a new generation is hopeful of providing the alternative in the next few years. All those who contested the elections have made it a point to work as people's ambassadors by identifying their pressing problems and addressing them. They said their interaction with Lok Satta Party leaders in Andhra Pradesh would help them build a strong organization in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu leaders underlined that although no new elections are round the corner in their State they are determined to build up the party and emerge as an alternative to traditional parties in the next few years. They said their in-depth study of the working of the Lok Satta in Andhra Pradesh is highly beneficial.
Among those who addressed the media were Ashok Kumar, Jagadeesh, Ravi Chandran, Senthil Arumugam and Vijay Anand.
Don't muzzle media: Lok Satta
Lok Satta Party State Working President D. V. V. S. Varma today warned against attempts to muzzle the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
Addressing a media conference, Mr. Varma referred to Press Council Chairman's comments against media and the Bombay High Court imposing a penalty of Rs.100 crore on a TV news channel for an inadvertent error and said they did not augur well for media freedom.
He conceded that there might have been deficiencies in the functioning of certain sections of the media. That is, however, no reason to control or regulate them.
The media should make concerted efforts to improve its credibility while the concerned authorities should focus on a dialogue to arrest undesirable trends in the media.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Dr. JP to deliver talk on State Funding of elections
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be delivering a talk on 'State vs Private Funding of Elections in Urban India' at Mysore on November 19 at India Urban Conference 2011.
The conference is being conducted by Janaagraha Center for Citizenship and Democracy and the Indian Institute of Human Settlements in partnership with Yale University.
'Urban electoral reforms' is one of the themes being discussed at the conference, considering that Indian cities are growing at an unprecedented rate. India is projected to have 26 cities with a population of over one million by 2030. The increase in urban population and the resultant increase in the urban voter base will pose many electoral challenges including funding of elections.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cane growers threaten to Switch to other crops
Representatives of sugarcane growers, who met here today demanded that the Government announce a State advisory price of Rs.2500 a ton for sugarcane without further delay.
The representatives, who met with Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in the chair, faulted the Government for not announcing the SAP although the crushing season has started. Sugarcane growers should be remunerated adequately considering the steep escalation in the cost of production.
Mr. P. Bhaskara Rao, Convener, Federation of Independent Farmers' Organizations, convened the meeting.
Cane growers' representatives from Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, and Krishna districts took part in the conference.
Dr. JP in his opening remarks said that sugar factory managements have been exploiting loopholes in the A.P. Sugarcane (Regulation of Supply and Purchase) Act, 1961. to exploit farmers.
The meeting in a resolution requested Dr. JP to draft an amendment to the Act to address the loopholes in it and submit it to the Assembly.
The representatives plan to meet the Chief Minister soon and represent their problems.
If the Government/sugar factories continue to ignore cane growers' problems, they will have no alternative to switching to other crops from the next crop season, said a resolution adopted by the meeting.
Those who took part in the conference included M. Appi Reddy, K. Butchi Reddy, P. Kishen Rao, V. Nagi Reddy, P. Narasimha Reddy, P. Anji Reddy K. Ajay, Ajay R. Wadiyar, B Narasimha Reddy. M. Narayana Reddy, D. Linga Reddy, M. Ganga Rajam and T. Srinivas.
Lok Satta Times November 16th-30th 2011
Lok Satta Times November 16th-30th 2011 can be downloaded from the following link.
http://www.loksatta.org/cms/documents/lstimes/lstimes-2011-11-16-30.pdf
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Dr. JP addressing IRS officers
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be delivering a talk on 'Indian democracy: The road ahead' at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, the apex training institute for officers of the Indian Revenue Service and other Central services, at Nagpur on November 16.
The academy invites leaders, who have made a lasting contribution to society, to interact with officers being inducted into various Central services so that they can adopt proper attitudes and perspectives in serving the country.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Lok Satta welcomes probe into Chandrababu's assets
The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordering an investigation into the assets of Telugu Desam Party President and former Chief Minister by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
Lok Satta Party State Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao recalled that the Lok Satta Party had sought constitution of a special court to inquire into corruption allegations the then Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu hurled against each other. At the party's annual conference at Ongole in October 2011, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan wanted the CBI to inquire into the assets of Mr. Chandrababu Naidu along with those of Mr. Y. S. Jaganmohana Reddy, son of Dr. YSR and Member of Parliament.
The Lok Satta Party said that Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, who denied allegations of any wrong-doing, should cooperate with the inquiry agencies. The inquiry provides a good opportunity for Mr. Chandrababu Naidu to prove his innocence.
Mr. Varma and Mr. Bhaskara Rao pointed out that although traditional political parties had been facing allegations of corruption for a long time, no inquiry has been initiated without courts' intervention. They said that strong institutional mechanisms are required to eradicate corruption. “At the heart of the anti-corruption struggle is the need for independent and impartial crime investigation. If CBI and ACBs had real autonomy and are seen to be effective, the courts would not have had to intervene” Lok Satta leaders said.
They recalled that Dr. JP had introduced a Bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2009. It provided for strengthening of the Lokayukta, granting of autonomy to the Anti Corruption Bureau, and attachment of properties of the guilty. Although Dr. JP sent the copies to all political leaders, none chose to follow it up.
The Lok Satta has sought constitution of strong Lokayuktas in States and ombudsmen at the local level as part of the Lokpal Bill now pending before the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dr. JP visiting Anantapur district on 12th Nov
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be visiting Anantapur district on Saturday, November 12.
He will interact with farmers of Martadu village in Garladinne mandal at 8-30 a.m. and later with handloom weavers of Vadiampet.
At 1-00 p.m., he will take part in a party workers’ meeting in Anantapur.
In the evening, he will take part in a rally, and address a public meeting at Saptagiri Circle at 5-00 p.m.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Lok Satta demands Rs.250 A quintal for sugarcane
The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the State Government announce a minimum State Advisory Price (SAP) of Rs.250 a quintal of sugarcane for the 2011-12 crushing season, without succumbing to the sugar lobby in the State Cabinet and among MPs.
By not announcing an SAP at all for the last few years, the Andhra Pradesh Government has left farmers and tenants to the mercy of sugar factories and their agents, commented Lok Satta Party State Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao in a media statement.
The State Government's complacency has emboldened sugar factory managements to pay different rates in different regions. Both the State and Central Governments have let down farmers and tenants by not considering the increase in costs of cultivation of sugarcane and the growing international demand for sugar in fixing the cane price. Considering that the cost of cultivation works out to Rs.40,000 per acre, the Union Government's Fair and Remunerative Price of Rs.145 is grossly unfair and unremunerative.
The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that the UP Government fixed a State Advisory Price as Rs.250 and the Punjab Government Rs.220 a quintal. The Andhra Pradesh Government should emulate its counterparts and announce an advisory price of Rs.250 a quintal.
Mr. Varma and Mr. Bhaskara Rao recalled that at a number of places farmers switched over to sugarcane this year as the State Government had failed to ensure even the Minimum Support Price for paddy in the last crop season. If the Government does not go to their rescue at least now, there is the risk of farmers declaring a crop holiday for cane also, they warned.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Lok Satta Times November 1st-15th 2011
Lok Satta Times November 1st-15th 2011 can be downloaded from the following link.
http://www.loksatta.org/cms/documents/lstimes/lstimes-2011-11-01-15.pdf
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Lok Satta forms agricultural sub-committee
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has formed an 11-member sub-committee to help farmers' associations in their fight for getting a remunerative price for their produce. The sub-committee will study farmers' problems and coordinate their action programs.
The sub-committee comprises the following: Messrs K. V. Basaveswara Rao (Vijayawada), Eedara Gopichand (Narasaraopet), S. Chengalraya Reddy (Chittoor), Gommisetty Venkata Ramana (Babu) (Anantapur), D. S. Narayana (Kadapa) S. Raghavulu (Khammam), Marepalli Srinivasa Reddy (Miryalaguda), P. Bhaskara Rao (Hyderabad), Akula Nageswara Rao (Srikakulam), Anumolu Gandhi (Vijayawada), Kollipara Sambasiva Rao (Gannavaram). Mr. Bhaskara Rao will be the convener.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Bhoodan Board will use Kukatpally Land for public purpose
The Bhoodan Yagna Board has agreed to utilize the 17 acres in Survey Nos. 353 and 354 of Kukatpally for public purposes, thanks to Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan’s initiative.
Disclosing this in a media statement, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao said that the board has agreed to set apart the land for development of urban housing, parks, and other amenities.
Of the 24 acres originally belonging to the board, a slum has come up in seven acres while 17 acres were in the possession of IDPL. With the Bhoodan Board getting the land back from IDPL now, media reports said that some private parties were trying to grab it.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao urged the Government to utilize the Bhoodan Board’s offer to serve larger public interests, especially of the poor, in the fast growing Kukatpally.
Let us build a society devoid of hatred: Dr. JP
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today called upon people to rededicate themselves to building a society that is devoid of hatred and discrimination based on caste and religion, region and language.
Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters to mark the State Formation Day, Dr. JP said that if India has remained as one and united despite mind boggling diversities, the credit goes to the architects of the Indian Constitution. India's accomplishment is all the more creditable against the backdrop of countries like Sri Lanka, Belgium and Canada witnessing prolonged periods of unrest and violence and some countries like Pakistan, Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union falling apart because of differences rooted in language and culture.
Dr. JP said that the linguistic reorganization of States on November 1, 1956 laid the foundation for a modern federal set-up in the country. When a controversy over making Hindi the sole official language of the country threatened to pit one region of the country against the other, the visionary leaders of modern India quelled unrest by opting for the three language formula, with equal importance to Hindi, English and the regional language.
There are constitutional processes if Telugu-speaking people choose to divide themselves into two or three separate States, Dr. JP said and added that in the process the atmosphere should not be vitiated by whipping up hatred between people.
Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma unfurled the party flag. Party leaders Mrs. N. Sarojadevi, Bhisetty Babji, and K. Gangadhara Rao shared the dais with Dr. JP.
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