[1]Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy promised equal development to all regions and said that his government would not compromise on law and order. “We have a great tradition of people from all regions living together in peace. We will take all steps to check terrorism and maintain law and order besides ensuring communal harmony,” he said, adding, “We have good days ahead.”
Addressing a gathering at the Parade Grounds here after unfurling the national flag on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the Rs 3,375 crore Godavari drinking water project would be ready by next December and would bring an additional 30 lakh acres under irrigation in the next two years. During his 40-minute address in Telugu, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy also paid rich tributes to Indira Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for their leadership.
“I believe that what is morally incorrect is politically incorrect. The satisfaction one gets in serving people is not derived from leadership,” he said. The statement was significant in light of rumours of an imminent change of leadership in the state. He also sought the cooperation of all sections of people to ensure that the International Biodiversity Conference scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in October, the World Agriculture Conference scheduled for November and the World Telugu Confe-rence at Tirupati from December 27 to 29 went off well.
He also pointed out that the government, through Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, had provided jobs to 2 lakh youths and had constructed 8 lakh houses for the poor while another 18 lakh were in various stages of completion. The Chief Minister urged the Centre to include agriculture in the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Referring to the controversial fee reimbursement and scholarship scheme, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said that his government was spending Rs 3,500 crore on it, and that the pending bills of Rs 1,800 crore of 2008 had been cleared.
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