Will not make false promises for the sake of votes: YS Jagan

Vijayawada: Asserting that he will not make any promise that can’t be fulfilled, chief minister and YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has appealed people not to fall into the false trap laid by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. He said that Naidu will come to the people with colourful manifestos with loads of fake and false promises before elections and dump people and his promises soon after the elections are over. He wanted people to differentiate between the true leader who will not make false promises and a fake leader who will be ready to promise to bring down the heavens just to dupe the people.

Chief minister interacted with the welfare pension beneficiaries at Venkatachalam Palli village of Darsi assembly constituency in Prakasam district on Monday. Distribution of pensions during April became a big controversy after the Election Commission (EC) barred volunteers from disbursement of the pension amount at the doorsteps of beneficiaries.

Interestingly, the pensioners present at the meeting overwhelmingly backed the services of the volunteers and requested the chief minister to bring them back after coming into power. Responding to their request, CM Jagan said that he would make the first signature to revive the volunteer system after assuming office after the elections.

‘It's heartening to see the widespread appreciation for the volunteer system. Naidu, who served as CM for 14 years, didn't even consider initiating such a system as his focus lies in establishing Janmabhoomi committees which resorted to corrupt practices. His tenure was marked by discrimination based on party affiliations. In stark contrast, the volunteer system initiated by our govt has extended services without corruption and discrimination,” said chief minister.

He said that his govt is spending Rs. 2000 crore per month, which is Rs. 24000 crore per year for pensions. He said that they have spent over to Rs 90,000 crore on pensions, which is higher than any other state in the country. “While Bihar is spending Rs 4,300 crore per year, Uttar Pradesh-Rs 5160 crore, Karnataka-Rs 4700 crore, Telangana-Rs 8,180 crore. We are spending nearly Rs.24000 crore per year,” said Jagan.

Speaking at the event, 55-year-old Patra Prabhavati from Darsi Village, conveyed her ordeal and expressed the pain she underwent to collect the pensions last week. ‘I have pain in my knees and can't walk, but for Rs 3000 this month, I had to go from pillar to post. I was told to visit three places to collect the money,’ Prabhavati said while breaking into tears. She said that the ration, pension, and schemes were sent to their doorsteps even during covid.

Another octogenarian pension beneficiary, P Venkatapathi, also informed CM Jagan about his struggle to get the pension this month. ‘Old people had to wait in the scorching heat for hours. What Chandrababu Naidu and (TDP leader) Nimmagadda did was evil and atrocious. We curse the ones who caused the delay in pensions,’ he said. He went on to compare CM Jagan to the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. ”A leader like Nehru too had implemented several schemes based on the feedback given by left party leaders from opposition. I was surprised to see a young leader like you to design so many welfare schemes without being asked by either people or opposition. This clearly shows that you are a leader with a golden heart and enlightened mind to uplift the poor,” said Venkatapathi.

A physically challenged Narasimaha Rao explained his ordeal to get pension during the TDP regime when Janma Bhoomi committees had to clear his application. He said that volunteers have removed their hardship as they made sure that people like him didn’t have to struggle for anything- be it a certificate, an Aadhaar card, or even a pension. An elderly woman, Gangireddy Mangamma, from Bottapalem invited the chief minister to visit her house and note the changes brought about by the welfare benefits received by her family.