Separate Youth Manifesto for Youths: Lokesh

ANANTAPUR: TD national general-secretary Nara Lokesh has announced that a separate manifesto for youths will form part of the party’s 2024 Assembly poll manifesto. It would also address other major concerns of the “disgusted” people from various sections, he said.

“The Yuva Galam will be a platform for the unemployed to fight against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. I promise a youths’ manifesto with a promise of private, government jobs and self-employment,” Lokesh said.

 He said Jagan Mohan Reddy’s photos were being used on small schemes, but why not on current bills, petrol, gas and essential commodities bills with abnormal prices?

Addressing the huge gathering at Kuppam after launching his 4,000-km padayatra, Lokesh justified his eligibility to do so.

Lokesh recalled he had already served as a minister in the state. “I, as panchayat raj minister, had initiated provisions for safe drinking water at every doorstep. As IT minister, I brought many industrialists to set up their units in the state.”

Further, he noted that he was a student of Stanford University, US, and worked with World Bank and was now involved in “an effort to wash the tears of the disgusted people of AP.”

 “Jagan Mohan Reddy cheated the people with false promises during his yatra but now he has turned into a Jadu Reddy, looting the state by flow of illicit liquor and sand mining, but did nothing for the people of state.”

 “Many chief ministers worked hard for the development of the state in the past 67 years, but the state was forced back by 67 years during this Chief Minister’s rule”, he alleged and added that instead of getting new industries, the Jagan Mohan Reddy team was packing off the existing industries that refused to give J-Tax.”

Referring to the YSRC slogan of decentralisation, Lokesh observed that Jagan “did nothing for Rayalaseema or Uttarandhra during the three-and-a-half years of his rule, but TD would confine itself to the original meaning of decentralisation by establishing industries in every district and improve job opportunities and business.”

The TD leader observed not even a single teacher and constable post was filled and group services recruitment was shameful with an announcement for limited posts as against the assurance of a job calendar.

Lokesh said the government did not do enough on Disha Act. “In his campaign, Jagan Mohan Reddy announced that teams will reach the spot quickly to save women. Now it is clear that Jagan Mohan Reddy has a gun that has no bullet but only a barking sound. Many women were victimised by the government, but no justice was done.”

 He demanded to release the details of any accused that got convicted within 21 days after the incident.

Lokesh announced that a TD government would provide free drip irrigation for every piece of agricultural land in Rayalaseema region along with quality seed and micro nutrients to farmers. Jagan Mohan Reddy failed to complete even 10 per cent of pending works of HNSS project, he alleged.