Naidu Oppressed Dalits and Backward Classes: Minister Merugu Nagarjuna

TIRUPATI: Social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna has alleged that Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu suppressed the rights of Dalits and backward classes during his 14-year tenure as chief minister.

Speaking at a public meeting as part of the Samajika Sadhikara Bus Yatra of the YSRC in Markapuram constituency on Monday, Nagarjuna praised Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his initiatives to promote social justice and speed up economic progress for marginalized communities.

Nagarjuna accused Chandrababu Naidu of being a habitual liar and attempting to regain power through deception. He cited the 2019 elections, where Naidu made 650 promises but failed to deliver on them, particularly affecting the farmers and the general public.

Minister Adimulapu Suresh highlighted the YSRC government's commitment to uplift the marginalized communities and backward regions, including the establishment of a medical college in Markapuram and the Veligonda project, which will provide drinking and irrigation water to local farmers by December.

Suresh also pointed out the corruption scandals associated with Chandrababu Naidu, calling him a cheater who not only deceived the public but also mocked the judiciary.

Markapuram MLA Kunduru Nagarjuna Reddy praised chief minister Jagan Reddy for implementing welfare schemes without discrimination. He noted that over Rs 1,700 crore had been allocated for welfare schemes and development works in Markapuram, including for resolving the water crisis in the region under Podili Peddacheruvu.

MLA Kolusu Parthasaradhi credited the late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy with the introduction  of the fee reimbursement system, which empowered many underprivileged households by making their children engineers and doctors.

The Samaajika Saadhikara Yatra saw the participation of YSRC regional coordinator V. Vijayasai Reddy, former minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy and other seniors.