Press Releases Archive

TRS chasing free zone mirage: Lok Satta

The TRS is trying to fan regional animosities by misinterpreting the Supreme Court judgment on the Presidential Order of 1975 and attributing motives to Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan on his stand.

Commenting on TRS MLA Harish Rao’s outburst against Dr. JP, Lok Satta Party spokespersons Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, Mr. V.Vijayender Reddy, Mrs. Ravala Jhansi Lakshmi told the media that Dr. JP had never described Hyderabad City as a free zone. On the contrary, he had repeatedly clarified that there was no mention of free zone either in the Presidential Order or the Supreme Court judgment upholding it.

The Lok Satta leaders said that the Presidential Order of November 1, 1975 sought to ensure fairness, equity and regional balance in Government jobs. It specifically exempted all the posts in the Secretariat, offices of heads of department, special offices or establishments, State-level offices or institutions, other than non-gazetted posts in major development projects and all posts as defined in the Hyderabad Police Act from zonal criteria for recruitment.

All that the Supreme Court did was to uphold the validity of the Presidential Order, which had been enforced in the State right from 1975 to 2001. The Supreme Court in its latest judgment annulled the High Court verdict which held it as invalid.

“The TRS, having been rebuffed in the 2009 general elections, is trying to make political capital by raising a controversy over the non-existent free zone now.

“Unlike other parties, the Lok Satta is committed to the implementation of the Presidential Order and G. O. No. 610 in both letter and spirit. It has not sought a revision of the Supreme Court judgment since it will be a futile exercise. The Supreme Court reviews a judgment only if it is vitiated by factual errors, which is not the case now.”

The Lok Satta leaders conceded that rural areas in Telangana continue to remain backward, like their counterparts in Rayalaseema and upland areas in Coastal Andhra. “Carving out of a separate State is not necessarily the solution for development of backward regions.”

The Lok Satta has proposed formation of district governments as a solution to tackling backwardness. The State Government should devolve powers, resources and personnel on district governments which are the best judges of local development needs. The party also proposed a per capita grant of Rs.1000 to every ward in both urban and rural areas so that committees elected by people could attend to local problems without knocking at the doors of politicians or bureaucrats.

Monday, November 9, 2009 - 17:07

TDP indulging in falsehood, Charges Lok Satta

Unnerved by Lok Satta Party’s growing popularity, the TDP is trying to sling mud at it especially on the eve of the GHMC elections as it did on the eve of the general elections, the Lok Satta Party charged today.

Talking to the media, party leaders Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Beesetti Babji, Mrs. S. Manorama, Mr. P. Ravimaruth said that TDP leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu had chosen to ignore facts and utter lies in regard to the Lok Satta stance on corruption.

The Lok Satta has all along maintained that there is little to choose between the Congress and the TDP so far as their attitude to corruption is concerned. The spokespersons cited many instances to buttress their claim.

The Lok Satta has taken a principled stand on both the allocation of mines and telecom spectrum by demanding that such allocations be made through international competitive bidding and not be left to the whims and fancies of ruling parties. There is little difference between the Congress and the TDP since both would like the era of patronage to continue, although they differ on beneficiaries.

The Lok Satta supported the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Presidential Order on the implementation of the six-point formula. In contrast, both the Congress and the TDP found themselves on the same side in seeking a review of the verdict. Both the Congress and the TDP sought to camouflage the fact that the Supreme Court had nowhere talked of a Hyderabad free zone. The Supreme Court merely upheld the zonal regulations that were honored between 1975 and 2001.

Although the Lok Satta Party requested the TDP to take the lead in getting the Prevention of Corruption Act amended based on a draft Bill prepared by it, the TDP chose to ignore its proposal. Apparently, the TDP, like the Congress, is not keen on curbing corruption for reasons known to everybody.

The Lok Satta had opposed the provisions in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act which confer voting rights on ex-officio members like MPs and State legislators since they are undemocratic and unconstitutional. But both the Congress and the TDP remained silent on it since they would like to utilize the provisions to undo people’s verdict.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out another instance of collusion between the Congress and the TDP. While the Congress did not field its candidate in the Terlam by-election, the TDP did not field its candidate in the Khairatabad by-election.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out the irony of Mr. Muddukrishnama Naidu accusing the Lok Satta of taking on the TDP, a fellow Opposition party, and not the ruling Congress. It was the TDP which had first unleashed a baseless and malicious campaign against the Lok Satta, a fellow Opposition party,

The Congress and the TDP are Tweedledum and Tweedledee of Andhra Pradesh politics since they find themselves on the same wavelength on most issues. In contrast, the Lok Satta is committed to fighting corruption, whoever happens to be in power. It has consciously refrained from making personal allegations since its focus is on issues and not on individuals.

The Lok Satta leaders said that their party is prepared even today to work with all parties who are sincere and serious in fighting corruption.

Sunday, November 8, 2009 - 18:50

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