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Congress walks out on AP governor's address

The 45-day budget session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly began today on a stormy note with members of the Congress walking out even as Governor C Rangarajan was addressing the House.

The members walked out, claiming the government was "anti-poor and pro-rich".

Sporting tricolour scarves around their necks, they trooped into the well of the House, waving copies of the address and raising slogans. But nothing could be heard in the din.

After Congress Legislature Party leader P Janardhana Reddy led his colleagues out, they staged a dharna (sit-in protest) in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the assembly complex.

Reddy later alleged that the governor's address was a "bundle of lies" as there was no mention of welfare schemes for the poor, only of those that helped industrialists. There was also no mention of specific programmes to alleviate the sufferings of farmers, he charged.

The governor, in his 35-minute address, said the government's emphasis on information technology and reforms in the infrastructure sector would go a long way in ensuring all-round development of the state.

The ruling Telugu Desam Party members, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, thumped their desks in appreciation when the governor said the state's public distribution system is arguably the best in the country, providing food security to the poor and acting to curb inflation.

The governor said the state's share of the gross domestic product is increasingly coming from the industries and services sectors, and that industrial promotion has been given priority.

A policy has been unveiled exclusively for small enterprises to achieve 15 per cent annual growth, generating more employment and reviving sick industries. Significant initiatives have been taken in the services sector and information technology, Rangarajan said.

Besides, the plan to make the state a preferred tourism destination deserves special mention, he said, adding that the allocation for this segment has been raised from Rs12 million to Rs450 million for the current year.

UNI

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