Vijayawada: Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu performed a deeksha for 12 hours against the YSRC government-created sand crisis at Vijayawada on Thursday, accusing the illegal ‘tax’ imposed by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as the reason for the astronomical escalation of cement prices in the state.
Telugu Desam supremo and former CM came down heavily on the Chief Minister, saying that Mr Reddy was spoiling the future of the state with his heedless decisions.
The YSRC government created sand shortage as part of their revenge politics against him. Calling Jagan Mohan Reddy a “bad person,” Mr Naidu said, “Bad ideas come to bad people. Jagan brought a bad sand policy and forcibly pushed over 35 lakh people into a crisis.”
The Telugu Desam chief lamented, “Owing to the sand crisis in the state, there is a total absence of construction works, which has pushed workers into a situation of starvation. But CM Jagan has remained irresponsive, like emperor Nero. This is to be severely condemned.”
He lambasted the Chief Minister for massive corruption, accusing the YSRC government of collecting an illegal J-tax from cement industries, saying, “you want J-tax in every work and contract in the state. You have threatened cement companies to pay J-tax, hence cement companies increased cement price from earlier price of Rs 110 per bag to Rs 250 to Rs 280 per bag.”
Mr Naidu alleged that YSRC leaders were smuggling sand, by putting MLA and MP stickers on the carrying vehicles, and selling the sand in adjacent states. He said that he was fighting against the sand crisis for past three months. The TD has found support from the entire opposition spectrum, including the BJP, Jana Sena, CPI, CPM and other parties but the YSRC government was adamant and resolutely refuses to take steps to resolve the sand crisis.
He said that Mr Reddy had forced the public to purchase sand in kilograms, putting huge financial burden on them, as opposed to his reign, during which sand was free.
Mr Naidu demanded the reintroducing of free sand policy, awarding Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to families of suicide victims and a compensation of Rs 10,000 PM to every construction worker who had lost livelihood during the last five months.
He also questioned the implementation of English medium without proper training to government teachers.
“I did PhD, but Mr Jagan cannot declare his educational qualification,” he said. “Students who completed their education in Telugu medium grabbed good employment in America and turned successful professionals,” he stated, asserting, “first priority should be given to Telugu, our mother tongue, and then English, which helps us earn our livelihood.”
He said that “Jagan is an insane person. Hence, police tied ropes to gates of my house without giving respect to my experience.”
Naidu claimed that TD had developed Amaravati as a hen that could lay golden eggs but CM Mr Reddy had killed the hen itself.
