TDP unable to digest its defeat: Rosaiah

Hyderabad, May 14 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah today said the TDP was levelling ''vain allegations'' against the Congress as that party was still unable to digest its defeat.

Speaking at the rededication plenum of the PCC on the occasion of the Congress government completing three years in office, Mr Rosaiah said the TDP leaders were still unable to digest the fact that the people had rejected them.

Taking inspiration from AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the state government had fulfilled most of its promises made to the people during the elections and the remaining were also under various stages of implementation, he said adding the state had achieved considerable development in the areas of agriculture, irrigation and industries.

Referring to Opposition criticism that the welfare sector was being neglected, Mr Rosaiah said the government had enhanced the pension of Rs 75 given to destitutes, widows and aged persons to Rs 200.

While the erstwhile government had accorded pension to only 17 lakh people, currently, 31 lakh people were getting the benefit, he said and added that pension was being sanctioned for handloom workers, who had just crossed 50 years in view of the health hazards faced by them in their profession. Also, the relief package of Rs 1.5 lakh being given to the families of the farmers, who had committed suicide was extended to the next of kin of handloom workers.

Asserting that the state was ahead in welfare activities, he said the needs of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities were being well taken care of.

Despite giving power absolutely free cost to the farmers, the AP Transco stood in the number one slot in the entire country in power generation, Mr Rosaiah claimed.

Informing the party workers that the state government had not approached the RBI for Overdraft even for a single day during the past few years, he said plan allocation was hiked from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore.

He exhorted the party workers to undertake door-to-door campaign to highlight the achievements of the government and also take a pledge that they would tirelessly work for victory of the party in the next elections.

UNI