Press Releases Archive

Center should probe Yanam incidents: Lok Satta

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today asked the State Government to prevail upon the Union Government to institute a thorough inquiry into the Yanam incidents. Although Yanam forms part of Puducherry Union Territory, Andhra Pradesh has a stake in it as yanam’s economy is intertwined with the Godavari districts of AP.

In a media statement, Dr. JP said that a central agency should probe whether any vested interests instigated trouble at Yanam for personal gain. Vested interests to whichever side they belonged should be punished

Dr. JP said the Yanam incidents resulting in loss of two precious lives and injuries to many were extremely sad. Such incidents would vitiate industrial climate, disrupt economic growth and sap people’s faith in the country’s future.

For last 15 years, managements and labor all over the country have forsaken the path of confrontation and been working together in mutual interest. As a result, profitability and productivity of enterprises and workers’ incomes have gone up.

The recent events at Maruti’s car factory at Manesar in Gurgaon and at Regency Ceramics in Yanam are, therefore, extremely unfortunate. Unless we learn the right lessons quickly and take vigorous preventive steps now, these isolated incidents could undermine national morale and affect economic growth and employment adversely.

Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 18:45

Lok Satta warns of attempts to divide castes

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today wanted the Government to come down heavily on those who are attempting to foment communal trouble by defiling or damaging or destroying Amebedkar statues.

In a media statement, Dr. JP said that stirring up enmity between two castes is no less heinous than spreading disaffection between Hindus and Muslims.

He asked the Government to restore the desecrated statues and consider installing a statue of Ambedkar in the State Legislature.

Dr. JP recalled that the Lok Satta Party had chosen Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as its twin icons. Gandhi stood for ethical politics and Ambedkar for rule of law, institutionalism and equal opportunities for all. Regarding a modern nation builder like Ambedkar as a Dalit leader is not merely a folly but an insult to the nation, Dr. JP added.

Dr. JP wanted the State Government to evolve a long-term policy on erection of statues of other than national leaders’ and sensitize people about it. Erection of thousands of statues all over the State without any due process will lead to chaos and anarchy.

Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 18:37

Let us fight corruption & illiteracy: Lok Satta

Eradication of corruption and illiteracy and building a nation that offers equal growth opportunities to all are the tasks before us, said Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma.

Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at the party headquarters to mark Republic Day, Mr. Varma said that corruption which was sporadic and petty in the early years of our republic has now grown into a leviathan, obstructing development. Constitution of powerful and independent agencies like Lokpal and Lokayuktas is necessary but not enough. Corruption can be ended only when the political system responsible for its survival and growth is overhauled.

Mr. Varma said that our failure to ensure quality education to all has come in the way of India leaping forward economically. An OECD study says that Indian higher secondary students rank higher than those from Kyrgyzstan only.. The standards of Indian students in Class VIII are equal to those of their counterpart Koreans in Class II. Although Governments have been spending billions of rupees every year, educational standards are abysmally low.

Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, K. Gita Murthy, M. Satyanarayana and P. Sivaji Raju took part in the meeting.

Later, Mr. Varma flagged off a tableau for the party’s anti-liquor rally from Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital to Indira Park. The Republic Day tableau depicts Andhra Pradesh’s tremendous progress -- not in its economy but in liquor consumption.

Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 16:58

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