Sonia promises justice on 'beedi' controversy: CM

Hyderabad, Nov 27 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and the Centre had assured him of necessary legal steps to protect the interests of lakhs of beedi workers.

''I apprised Ms Gandhi on Saturday during her Tirupati visit about the concerns of beedi workers on the skull and bones logo. She was particular on wiping out the tears of women'', he told a press meet while taking exception to TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu's charge that he was misleading people and lying on Ms Gandhi's assurances.

On her direction, Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernadez came here and promised necessary legal steps before the order came into effect from next February, he said, adding 'people very well know who is telling lies'.

It was the Congress which was in power at the Centre and in the state and it alone could ensure justice to all, including beedi workers, he asserted.

Maintaining that the Centre's order would not in any way affect his party's poll prospects adversely, he said 'the Congress will come out with flying colours in the by-polls.' People would not be carried away by false propaganda by the opposition as was done during the previous elections, including municipal corporation polls and elections to Panchayat Raj bodies, which the Congress had won hands down'.

''Ms Gandhi is particular that Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states keep promises to the people', Mr Reddy said.

While the Government had already implemented its major promises, including free power to farmers, loans to women self-help groups at a three per cent intrest rate and time-bound implementation of major irrigation projects, the previous TDP Governemnt had given the go-by to three major poll promises, including Rs two per kg rice, total prohibition and free power to farmers, he added.

Objecting to opposition parties projecting the Congress, which was in power at the Centre and in the State as a 'culprit,' Mr Reddy asked whether it was not a fact that the BJP-led NDA Government, supported by the TDP, enacted the health warning legislation.

TRS Chief K Chandrasekara Rao, who was now making a hue and cry had done nothing to protect 'beedi' workers when he was Labour Minister, he added.

UNI SM AA PA KN1830