Governor lauds state government's performance

Hyderabad, Feb 2 : Andhra Pradesh Governor Narayan Datt Tiwari said the state government has not only kept all the promises it made after it assumed power in 2004 but also implemented many other schemes for the benefit of all sections of the society.

"The government can justifiably look back with satisfaction that a large number of schemes implemented by it over the last five years have helped a vast majority of the people of the state, particularly the SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities," he said.

"The government could truly promote inclusive growth in the state in proportions unheard of in post-independence era in the country," the Governor said in his customary address to the joint session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature, marking the inauguration of the 10-day Budget session here today.

Unperturbed by vociferous protests by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party and Telangana Rashtra Samiti members, the 83-year-old Governor continued reading out the 37-page address, often raising the pitch of his voice when the din caused by the protesters became shriller.

Though he fumbled at times while reading out the lengthy text, the seasoned politician completed the job in 80 minutes even as the opposition members tore the speech copies and flung the paper pieces in the air.

Barring on a couple of occasions, the treasury benches unusually maintained calm as this was the last session of the 12th Assembly.

The Governor, at the end of his address, greeted all the members with a broad smile and a 'namaste' as the opposition members raised slogans against the government for "making the Governor speak blatant lies." Tiwari mentioned almost all the schemes that the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government launched in the last five years and also drew a comparison with the situation during the Telugu Desam Party regime between 1994-2004.

Andhra Pradesh achieved an average annual economic growth rate of 8.96 per cent for the period 2004-08, with a 10.64 per cent growth in 2007-08 alone, as against an average of 5.75 per cent between 1994 and 2004, he pointed out.

"Crop insurance scheme was introduced with village as unit. As much as 1500 crore units of power is being supplied to the agriculture sector free of cost. Power tariff for other categories has not been hiked in the last five years while industrial tariff was brought down. Likewise, there has been unprecedented growth in all sectors with lakhs of jobs created in the last five years," the Governor claimed.

Referring to the state government's ambitious Jalayagnam programme, Tiwari said 12 major irrigation projects have been completed.

"The Jalayagnam programme involves massive expenditure of Rs 1,50,194 crore. A new ayacut of 100.38 lakh acres will be created once the 42 major and 28 medium irrigation projects are completed. Besides, 21.75 lakh acres of existing ayacut will be established," the Governor said. The Governor also trumpeted the numerous populist schemes introduced by the Rajasekhara Reddy government.

Referring to the law and order scenario, Tiwari said "the government has done a commendable job in containing extremist violence in the state which assumed gigantic proportions prior to the year 2004. My government has already started taking several initiatives for improving the preparedness of the law enforcing agencies in combating terrorism," he said.

The TDP members constantly pooh-poohed the claims made by the government throughout the Governor's address.

"No, sir. No, sir," they constantly cried as the governor reeled out figures on the state's economic growth.

"The high growth rate is only in corruption," they alleged.

"No seed, no fertiliser, no support price," they lamented when the agriculture "success" story was read out.

The TRS members joined their new allies in the slogan-shouting dubbing the ruling Congress party a cheat on the Telangana statehood issue.

Weavers' suicides, fisheries scandal, the Satyam computers scandal and the Maytas Infra deals also figured in the TDP's attack.