AICC to protect the interests of beedi workers: AP CM

Hyderabad, Nov 28 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said All India Congress Committee (AICC) had assured to protect the beedi workers in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandes had assured the State Government and the Beedi Industry that the Central Government would consider their damnds sympathetically.

Dr Reddy said the UPA Government and the AICC would protect the interests of the beedi workers.

The Chief Minister said Dr Anbumani had assured him this morning that the Government would examine all legal aspects on enacting a legislation in this session of Parliament, or to bring an Ordinance after the session with an amendment to the notification to help the beedi workers and the industry.

Dr Reddy said Mr Fernandes had assured that the Centre was prepared to bring an amendment to the Central Government order prescribing danger mark on beedi bundles, which would come into force from February one, 2007.

He charged the Opposition Telugu Desam Party(TDP) for politicising the issue.

He alleged that the NDA and the TDP were responsible for introducing the Bill in Parliament in 2003, supported by the TDP MPs.

He said the Telangana Rastra Samithi(TRS) President and former Union Labour Minister K Chandra Sekhara Rao, during his two-and-half year tenure in UPA Governmment had not taken steps to solve the issue, though he was aware of the implication of the legislation.

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