YSRCP accuses Naidu government of reviving welfare promises ahead of polls

YSRCP alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is making welfare promises ahead of local body elections despite failing to fulfil earlier commitments. The party criticised pension changes, assigned land claims and house allocations while highlighting Jagan-era schemes

Amaravati: YSR Congress Party has flayed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for making tall claims about welfare schemes with an eye on the ensuing local body elections.

The party said the coalition government has failed on various fronts and is now trying to take credit for measures introduced by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

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Speaking to the media at the YSRCP Central Office at Tadepalli on Wednesday, Party General Secretary Gadikota Srikanth Reddy said Chandrababu Naidu had cheated women, farmers, youth and every other section of society by going back on his election promises. He is now renewing those promises with an eye on the local body elections.

He alleged that ever since Chandrababu assumed office, new pensions have not been sanctioned to eligible beneficiaries from weaker sections, including women. “We demand that pensions be paid retrospectively to all beneficiaries and not merely from the date of sanction. Persons with disabilities are being forced to run from pillar to post to get their pension applications approved,” he said.

Srikanth Reddy said during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, pensions were delivered at beneficiaries’ doorsteps, while volunteers completed all the required formalities. Chandrababu has dismantled that effective system and reduced the number of beneficiaries on one pretext or another.

“He is now asking people to apply afresh and claiming that their applications will be considered on merit. This is nothing but a drama ahead of the local body elections. While there were about 69 lakh pensioners during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, Chandrababu has removed nearly six lakh beneficiaries. This exposes the coalition government’s lack of sincerity,” he said.

Srikanth Reddy termed Chandrababu Naidu’s claims regarding assigned lands as ‘misleading’. He said that it was during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure that a GO was issued to grant title deeds to rightful occupants who had had disputed assigned land for 10 years.

“Chandrababu’s claim that assigned lands are now being converted into freehold properties is merely the result of the earlier GO. The coalition government is resorting to such tactics solely to secure votes in the local body elections,” he said.

On Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar’s statement that five lakh houses have been allotted to the State, the YSRCP leader said this was insignificant compared with the 30 lakh house-site pattas distributed to women under the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.