Guntur, February 08: There is no danger to the Congress government or the party in the state, declared Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy buoyed by the big turnout of people at his Rachabanda programmes in Guntur and Prakasam districts today. The merger of the PRP with the Congress seem to have had its effect as the chief minister appeared visibly happy and confident while declaring that there is no threat to his government.
“Some people are saying that the Congress is in trouble and my government is in a crisis. There is no crisis either in the Congress or in the government. The huge crowds gathered here are an indication to that,” the chief minister said.
Kiran Kumar Reddy participated in the Rachabanda programmes at Nizampatnam in Guntur district and at Kanigiri in Prakasam district. A large number of people, especially women, attended the programmes.
Addressing the gathering at Nizampatnam, the chief minister said the government would gradually reimburse tuition fee and give scholarships to students. The government had to spend Rs 3,000 crore towards fee reimbursement and scholarships of 25 lakh students in the state. “We will pay the amounts on a priority basis. My government’s aim is to see that all the students complete their studies,” the chief minister said.
In an indirect warning to the managements of private colleges, the chief minister said no one should try to take advantage of the delay in reimbursing the fee.
The chief minister assured the farmers in the coastal belt who lost crops in December that the State was expecting a Central assistance of Rs 1,200 crore to compensate their losses. The State government had already given input subsidy to the farmers to the tune of Rs 3,200 crore for the crops lost earlier, he said.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said cases related to hearing impairment would also be included in the Arogyasri health insurance programme. Fixing each hearing implant would cost around Rs 6 lakh, he said.
On the completion of Pulichintala and Polavaram projects, Kiran Kumar Reddy said they were expecting Central government’s assistance to expedite the project works.
In Nachavaram village in Prakasam district, AISF district president S Vasanth was snubbed by the police when he wanted to ask the chief minister about the fee reimbursement. However, the chief minister wanted Vasanth to speak. Later, Kiran Kumar gave an assurance that the government would release the amounts due to students on a priority basis.
–Agencies