Lok Satta unparalleled in fighting for Telangana causes: Dr. JP

The Lok Satta Party has had a stellar record in fighting for Telangana causes, asserted its President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today.

Announcing that Mr. Maheswarapu Gattaiah would be contesting on behalf of the party in the by-election to the Assembly from Parakal constituency in Warangal district, Dr. JP told a media conference that people have to decide whether they should vote for traditional parties which are bent upon abusing power and indulging in corruption or the Lok Satta which is committed to ushering in corruption-free politics. They should decide whether they want a 'peddala Telangana' or a 'prajala Telangana.

Forty-three-year-old Gattaiah, President of the Lok Satta Party's Warangal district unit, has been practicing law in Warangal district court for the last 17 years.

Dr. JP recalled that it was the Lok Satta Party which took the initiative and got Section 14F deleted from the Presidential Order of 1975 deleted. The section, which provided for recruitment of lower level police personnel in Hyderabad city from all over the State, had triggered the Telangana agitation. It was again the Lok Satta Party which insisted on implementation of G.O. No. 610 in Ranga Reddy district in the teeth of opposition from all other parties. The order provided for repatriation of non-local personnel from Ranga Reddy district.

The Lok Satta Party, Dr. JP pointed out, fought against diversion of the Godavari water from Yellamapalli to quench the thirst of Hyderabad people and pleaded for its utilization in Telangana districts. The party convinced the Chief Minister that implementation of Krishna water project Phase III to meet the drinking water needs of Hyderabad would be cheaper and faster. It is the Lok Satta Party which got the Siddipet market yard, constructed at a cost of Rs.5 crore and left unutilized for many years, opened and went to the rescue of cotton farmers. It is the Lok Satta Party which enabled paddy farmers in the State to get nearly Rs.1050 a bag of paddy against the then prevailing price of Rs.750 by mounting an agitation and defying the illegal curbs on paddy exports to neighboring States.

The Lok Satta Party, he recalled, has articulated its policy on Telangana unambiguously. The aspirations of Telangana people in a democratic society cannot be ignored. The Lok Satta Party welcomes the formation of Telangana as part of a comprehensive and amicable solution.

Dr. JP said that the by-elections in the State have been imposed by parties which are thirsting for making money by abusing power. There is little difference among the Congress, TDP and YSR Congress in their policies.

Dr. JP said the time has come for people to decide whether they should vote for parties which are bent upon perpetuating corruption for personal gain or those which are committed to ending corruption and provide good governance. The Lok Satta Party is committed to ending corruption, decentralizing power, ensuring justice to farmers, fighting the liquor menace, providing jobs to youth and ensuring equal education and health care opportunities to all.

Dr. JP recalled that it was he who exposed the Vanpic deal in the Assembly. To ward off competitive bidding and lend it respectability, the then Andhra Pradesh Government masqueraded it as a G-to-G (Government to Government) deal. Ras Al Khaimah is just a tiny kingdom with a GDP of a mere $4 billion. The Government allocated nearly 13,000 acres for the Vodarevu and Nizampatnam ports. In contrast, the Singapore port, which handles more cargo than all the Indian ports put together, operates from just 1200 acres. Again, the private group which is associated with Vanpic and other ports on the east coast has got away with 400 km of coastline as its exclusive economic zone, something which is unheard of in world history.

Replying to a question on Lepakshi Knowledge Park, Dr. JP said the Lok Satta Party is not opposed to industrialization. It is however dead set against allocation of natural resources without competitive bidding for the personal gain of a few.

Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta Party would file a PIL in the High Court after its summer seeking grant of autonomy to the Anti Corruption Bureau as suggested by the Supreme Court. That the ACB has now become the pocket organization of the ruling party is evident from the recent reshuffle of top personnel.

Lok Satta Party leaders G. Raja Reddy, Bandaru Ramamohana Rao and Maheswarapu Gattaiah took part in the media conference.