Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today strongly condemned the heinous attack on the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters at Kaushambi in Ghaziabad saying “there is no place for hooliganism or violence in a democracy.”

“Open, honest and informal public discourse is the essence of democratic functioning. One may not like the views expressed by others. But that does not give one the license to indulge in verbal or physical violence. The only democratic option lies in countering others with facts and logic.”

In this context, Dr. JP underlined that one should keep in mind what French philosopher Voltaire had said, ‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.’

“The attack on the AAP office exemplifies how low we have fallen in democratic ethos and practices. The lust for power should not blind one to the need for civility in public discourse. A vast, diverse and ancient country can be held together only through love, patience, understanding and painstaking reconciliation of conflicting views.”

Dr. JP added, “We may not agree with AAP leader Prashant Bhushan’s views on Jammu and Kashmir. However, we have to respect his opinion and debate its merits in a civilized manner. That is only way we can protect and preserve the unity, integrity and social fabric of the country.”

The Lok Satta Party will be organizing a ‘satyagraha’ at the constituency level throughout the State on January 30, Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, by victims of contaminated drinking water, Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu and the liquor consumption.

Announcing this at a media conference, State Lok Satta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao said the Hyderabad Water Board is supplying unsafe drinking water in 14 out of 40 places in five constituencies of Hyderabad city. The constituencies are L. B. Nagar, Jubilee Hills, Sanat Nagar, Seri Lingampalle and Amberpet.

The water collected in more than one out of three vials turned darkish after 24 hours because it was not chlorinated. Yet the board continues to claim it tests drinking water daily and there is no outbreak of water-bore diseases.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the Government has taken lakhs of youth for a ride by promising jobs or livelihood opportunities under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, the Chief Minister’s pet scheme. Although the Chief Minister promised to provide jobs to 15 lakh youth in three years, only four lakh of the 24 lakh applicants have been provided jobs even according to Government data. Youth recruited by business and industry both on college campuses and outside were included as Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu beneficiaries.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the Lok Satta Party would conduct a round table meeting at all constituency headquarters on January 12, National Youth Day, by mobilizing all those who had been let down by the Chief Minister’s scheme. They could call toll free number 1800 4190877 and take part in the round table.

The State Lok Satta Party President disclosed that 100 percent of people in bastis have become liquor addicts according to a survey carried out by the party in the last one month. Thousands of women have become widows in their prime of life because of their spouses’ addiction to liquor. When the bread winner who earns Rs.200 a day passes away, the Government offers the widow a pittance of Rs.200 as monthly pension.

The Lok Satta would mobilize victims of Government’s flawed policies on January 30 and conduct a satyagraha, he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao refuted the TRS MLA’s charge that Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan was against formation of Telngana. Long before the TRS was born, Dr. JP had in an article published in a prominent Telugu daily on November 6, 2000 argued that new States could be formed in response to people’s wishes and for administrative convenience but the process should be democratic and objective.

Most parties in Andhra Pradesh, he said, are indulging in double-speak. The YSR CP which once said the Center could carve out Telangana now claims to fight for a united State. The TRS which claims Telangana formation as its single-point program is trying to thwart it under some pretext on the other. Both the Congress and the TDP are speaking in two voices. In contrast, he said, it is only the Lok Satta which has taken a consistent stand.

In reply to the TRS question as to why Dr. JP had contested from Kukatpally, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said Dr. JP had settled in Hyderabad and chose Kukatpally as decided by the party. He challenged other party leaders to face Dr. JP in any constituency other than their pocket boroughs.

Lok Satta Party leaders P. Bhaskara Rao, M. Satyanarayana, Gorti Srinivas and M. Ramesh Babu took part in the media conference.