New PCC executive in a day or two

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA, MAY 12. The APCC president, Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, has said he will be going to Delhi tomorrow to meet Ms. Sonia Gandhi and finalise the State executive committee of the party giving due representation to weaker sections, youth and women and striking a balance among different castes and regions.

Speaking to newspersons here today, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao refuted the charge that there was inordinate delay in the constitution of the executive committee. He pointed out that State executive committees had not been constituted in any of the States till now. But as the high command seemed to be in a hurry to constitute the committees, he expressed confidence that he would not return to Hyderabad with empty hands this time.

He said he had already submitted his list and it was for the high command to finalise it. As per the party constitution, the State executive committee cannot have more than 51 members. Given an opportunity, he said he would give 60 per cent representation to the weaker sections and 80 per cent to youth in the PCC and also DCCs. Women would be given 33 per cent representation in the committees. ``But then we have to accommodate vocal castes like Kapus, Kammas and Reddys who would not brook any neglect and open their `third eye.' They are expressing anger even after getting due representation,'' he said.

Once the executive is formed, it would become easy for the party to decide as how to continue the agitation for minimum support price for paddy. He, however, stated categorically that the party would not rest until it got the demands of farmers met by the Government. Despite the assurances of the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, the farmers are denied MSP for paddy and they found themselves in a pathetic condition as there are no buyers to lift their produce. He stressed the need for the State to prevail upon the Centre and get the entire stock of paddy lying with farmers lifted by the FCI at MSP.

He asked the Chief Minister not to express helplessness in the present crisis but realise his strength to find a solution.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said the Congress had decided to organise rasta rokos only for one hour to highlight the problems of farmers without causing inconvenience to road users. But he regretted that some leaders resorted to rail roko for five hours at Hanuman Junction on Friday affecting train movement and causing hardship to passengers. On a petition filed by him, he said that the High Court had given interim orders directing that the orphan children in the possession of NGOs should be transferred to social welfare hostels.

Mr. P. Upendra, former Union Minister, Mr. Koneru Ranga Rao, former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chanumole Venkata Rao, Mr. Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru, Mr. Jaleel Khan, Mr. M. Budha Prasad, MLAs, were present.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Next     : BJP asked to make its stand clear on Telangana