Gadapa Gadapaku aimed to focus attention on public issues, says Sajjala

VIJAYAWADA: YSRC general secretary and government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna on Friday criticised Telangana minister Harish Rao for some remarks he made about the AP government vis-a-vis electricity reforms and treatment of teachers.

He said it would be good to talk about the issues between the two states and still better if Rao focused on these problems first. Earlier, Rao had alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government is yielding to the Centre’s pressure on the implementation of electricity reforms.

Addressing the media, Ramakrishna Reddy said chief minister Jagan Reddy spoke very positively about the Gadapa Gadapaku programme in the review he did, and no one criticised it. Along with the ministers, all MLAs should also participate in the programme, he said.

Reddy said Gadapa Gadapaku programme was predetermined and hence “we took a scientific report from the consultants and reviewed it based on that.” With the increase in the use of technology, digital world and social media, “we are getting to know people's opinions from time to time.”

He said Jagan's main intention now is winning 175 out of 175 seats. Discipline is also necessary along with confidence. The performance of 27 MLAs was not good but they were not held guilty. “We all took the things positively and will correct the deficiencies, like in a family.”

He said, “We have a patent on free electricity for farmers. Those (TDP) who said it was impossible to provide free electricity during YSR term have no right to talk about it today. When it comes to Jagan, making solar power available at a low cost, reducing the cost on the government and giving specified quality electricity to the farmers is a great reform.”

“We have taken this decision on meters after thinking about the farmers. It is being implemented experimentally in Srikakulam district. No complaints from there. With power meters, accountability will increase and the myth that farmers are stealing all the power will be exposed. The burden on DISCOMs will be reduced.”

Ramakrishna Reddy said Chandrababu Naidu built Amaravati. Such things can only be shown on the computer; and Chandrababu did nothing except on paper. Jagan is not like that. The process for construction of medical colleges is going on and we will not leave anything on paper or stone plaque. We will win in 2024 as well. Tenders were called for medical colleges. Work started. If it takes a year to build a house, it takes four to five years to complete a medical college.”