Press Releases Archive

School management bows to parents

Cal Public School in Kapra today agreed to roll back the steep fees it had effected following an agitation by parents.

The school had raised the fees by 57 percent sparking the agitation. At a meeting held with the school management today, the parents agreed to an increase of only 10 percent in the fees subject to the management providing drinking water and toilets to students in three months.

Mr. Guduru Sudarshan Reddy, J. Krishna Rao and Mr. G. Venkanna, all Lok Satta Party leaders, were among those who negotiated with the school management.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 21:24

Resource constraints stymied Lok Satta In elections: Dr. JP

Had the Lok Satta had Rs.40 crore as its election fund, it would have emerged as a significant player in Andhra Pradesh politics today, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said today.

Addressing a media meet, at which he released a statement of donations received and expenditure incurred by his party during the elections to the Assembly and the Lok Satta, Dr. JP said the party was handicapped by paucity of resources in engendering confidence about its fighting mettle. Although the party succeeded in taking its message to the public, it could not whip up a wind in its favor because of its low-key campaign.

Dr. JP pointed out that a political party cannot function without resources. “Honest politics needs honest money. The party accepted donations only by cheque, accounted for every rupee it spent and placed the facts before the public.”

Dr. JP called upon leaders of competence and integrity from all walks of life to make the Lok Satta their forum for bettering people’s lives.

The party was introducing executive membership with a view to making the party self-sustaining in its day-to-day operations. An executive member has to pay Rs.1000 as fees per year or Rs.100 per month as a token of his owning the party.

On the occasion of 2009 elections, the party received contributions amounting to Rs.3,23,73.900. It incurred a total expenditure of Rs.3,16,01,095 including Rs.2,25,83,670 on electronic and print media. The contributions included those from NRIs. Dr. JP spent a total of Rs.4,92,326 on contesting from Kukatpally to the Assembly.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP said the three traditional parties in Andhra Pradesh would have spent Rs.4000 crore, most of it on inducing voters with cash and liquor, during the elections.

Dr. JP said the Lok Satta would contest the GHMC elections with a clear-cut and practicable agenda. The five promises the party is making are:

  • Supply of safe drinking water in all colonies and bastis which do not have the facility now with the installation of reverse osmosis plants
  • Implementing a citizen’s charter under which failure to attend to a public grievance in a specified period invites penalty on the GHMC
  • Identification and resolution of problems basti-colony wise and implementation of a division agenda in three phases – 100 days, one year and five years respectively.
  • Devolution of GHMC funds at the rate of Rs.2 crore for each division every year, so that an elected divisional committee could spend it on attending to pressing local problems
  • Integration of the functioning of the GHMC, Metrowater and Urban Development Authority

“We have the clarity of purpose, determination, competence and integrity to deliver on our promises. We can make Hyderabad a truly get city worthy of our heritage. Right now, the city is on the verge of paralysis with poor water supply, inadequate drainage and sewerage, and nightmarish traffic. This election should serve as a wake up call, and all youth, women, middle classes and the poor should join hands to transform our city”, said Dr. JP.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP said his party would consider an alliance with other parties in the GHMC elections provided there is total agreement on the agenda for the city, and there is willingness to practice ethical politics.

Mr. V. Vijayender Reddy, Lok Satta Secretary and Mr. Nandipeta Ravinder, President, Greater Hyderabad Lok Satta unit, flanked Dr. JP.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 21:20

Dr.JP's letter to Chief Minister and all Floor leaders

11th June 2009

Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy
Chief Minister of AP
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad

Sub: Prevention of Corruption (Andhra Pradesh) Amendment Act, 2009

Dear Dr Rajasekhara Reddy garu,

Please recall the discussion in the Assembly on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. You were also recently quoted in the media expressing your strong commitment to combat corruption. If the government is serious about its intention to combat corruption, we need to amend the current legal framework to make it more effective on the following lines:

1. Facilitate seizure and forfeiture of property of corrupt public servants
2. Establish special anti-corruption courts in each district
3. Appoint independent prosecutors drawn from judiciary
4. Establish an independent anti-corruption agency functioning under the overall supervision of Lokayukta
5. Presumption of guilt on public servants in case of disproportionate assets and those who are caught red-handed while accepting bribe.

We also require to enact a new law to integrate the myriad disciplinary procedures against erring public servants. Right now there is a complicated maze with multiplicity of agencies dealing with such matters: Departmental enquiry, Tribunal for disciplinary proceedings, Public Servants’ Inquiry Act, Commissionerate of Enquiries, Vigilance Commission and Lokayukta. We also need to integrate Lokayukta with the Vigilance Commission.

For the time being, as I promised in the House, I am sending you a carefully prepared draft Bill “Prevention of Corruption (Andhra Pradesh) Amendment Act, 2009”

I request you to convene an all party meeting on this subject of fighting corruption. This Bill has been prepared taking into account the recommendations of the Law Commission, Administrative Reforms Commission and other expert bodies. I request you to introduce the Bill in the ensuing Budget Session. I trust that you will act speedily to enact this legislation for combating Corruption.

I am sharing this communication with the Speaker of the Assembly, Chairman of Legislative Council, Minister of Law, Minister for Legislative Affairs, Leader of the opposition and all floor leaders of both Houses of AP Legislature.

With warm personal regards,

Sd/-

Jayaprakash Narayan

President

Encl: Draft legislation “Prevention of Corruption (Andhra Pradesh) Amendment Act, 2009”

Copy to:

1. The Speaker, A.P Legislative Assembly
2. The Chairman, A.P Legislative Council
3. The Leader of Opposition, A.P. Legislative Assembly
4. The Minister of Law, Government of A.P.
5. The Minister for Legislative Affairs
6. The Floor Leader, PRP
7. Floor Leader, TRS
8. Floor Leader, MIM
9. Floor Leader, CPI
10. The Floor Leader, BJP
11. Floor Leader, CPM

Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 07:23

Pages