M Venkaiah Naidu: Service-oriented politicians needed

GUNTUR: Vice-President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu said hereditary leaders are not needed in politics. Only service-oriented leaders are required, he said. He was addressing a public meeting, as part of birth centenary celebrations of Congress Quit India activist and former minister Alapati Venkataramiah at Tenali on Saturday. He said selfish leaders can prove to be dangerous to the society and  nation. Leaders should serve the public, he said.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the number of years one spends in politics is not what matters but securing a place in the hearts of people matters most, for politicians. He lamented that caste, religion and cash-based politics have increased  in the country as they are not a good sign for prosperity. On the Jai Andhra movement in 1972, he said had Andhra Pradesh divided in that year, then AP and Telangana states would have developed much better and created history.

He suggested that the CMs of AP and Telangana should work in coordination for the development of both the states for the benefit of the public. Further, he suggested that both the “Chandrulu” N. Chandrababu Naidu and K. Chandrasekhar Rao,  should adapt to healthy politics and focus on developing their own states. Mr Venkaiah Naidu said villages would be developed only when all the basic amenities are provided and roads are built for better connectivity. Remembering yesteryears, he said Guntur district inspired many people to join the Indian freedom movement and praised the services of Alapati Venkataramaiah and thanked writer Ch. Baba Vali for documenting the life of Venkataramaiah in the biography.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the statute of Venkataramaiah and released his biography on the occasion. AP Legislative Assembly Speaker K. Sivaprasada Rao, Guntur MP Galla Jayadev, minister for social welfare N. Ananda Babu, minister for medical and health Kamineni Srinivas, AP State Women Commission chairperson N. Raja Kumari, Tenali MLA Alapati Rajendra Prasad and others participated in the programme. The leaders felicitated Mr Venkaiah Naidu and hailed his services to the BJP and the country on the occasion.