Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy: Difference between revisions
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== Political career == |
== Political career == |
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Reddy has an eventful 25-year political career to date. He started his career as samithi president and later served as a youth congress leader. In the ensuing elections in 1978, he won on the [[Indian National Congress]] ticket at the age of 28. He served as minister in Tanguturi Anjaiah cabinet for a brief period. Sensing a potential leader, the then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] entrusted him with Pradesh Congress Committee resident when he was 34 years old. Dr. Reddy represented [[Kadapa]] contstituency as Member of Parliament of India for four times and similar number of times as Member of legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh from Pulivendula constituency. Reddy holds the record of being never lost an election. |
Reddy has an eventful 25-year political career to date. He started his career as samithi president and later served as a youth congress leader. In the ensuing elections in 1978, he won on the [[Indian National Congress]] ticket at the age of 28. He served as minister in [[Tanguturi Anjaiah]] cabinet for a brief period. Sensing a potential leader, the then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] entrusted him with Pradesh Congress Committee resident when he was 34 years old. Dr. Reddy represented [[Kadapa]] contstituency as Member of Parliament of India for four times and similar number of times as Member of legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh from Pulivendula constituency. Reddy holds the record of being never lost an election. |
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=== Padayatra === |
=== Padayatra === |
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Revision as of 08:47, 6 June 2007
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (January 2007) |
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy | |
|---|---|
| File:Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.jpg | |
| Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh | |
| Constituency | Pulivendula |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 July 1949 Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Vijayalakshmi |
| Children | Son and a daughter |
| Residence(s) | Begumpet, Hyderabad |
| Website | http://www.ysr.in |
As of 2 October, 2006 Source: Government of Andhra Pradesh | |
Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy (born 8 July 1949), popularly known as Y.S.R., is currently serving as Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He represents the Indian National Congress party and was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pulivendula Assembly Constituency of Cuddapah District.
Reddy was sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in May 2004 after a whirlwind tour (known as Paada Yatra) of rural villages across the entire state, a year before the scheduled elections which were later preponed to an earlier date along with general elections to parliament. Many critics and followers acclaim his Paada Yatra played a crucial role in bringing Indian National Congress back to power in Andhra Pradesh after nine years.
Reddy has been named as the most popular chief minister in the country[2]according to the India Today Mood of the Nation 2006 poll conducted nationwide.
Family background
Reddy, the second of five brothers, was born in Pulivendula, a small town in Cuddapah ditrict of Andhra Pradesh. He comes from a middle-class family, which is in the service of public right from the beginning. Reddy was married to Smt. Vijayalakshmi in 1971 and has a son, Jagan Mohana Reddy and a daughter, Sharmila.
Achievements
Reddy successfully parleyed with central government to get much coveted IIT to Andhra Pradesh. He announced the grant of IIT to the state amid the cheers of members in the state assembly [3]. Reddy further added that the premier institute would be located in Medak district as per the directive of HRD ministry. Reddy added that IITs that are located near cities, and having good land and air connectivity are more productive and hence the decision to change the original proposal from backward area Basara of Adilabad district to Medak, which is outskirts of Hyderabad. HRD ministry later clarified that the place is up to state government.
Education
Reddy is a medical science graduate from the M.R. College of Gulbarga, Karantaka, where he served as President of students union. He completed house surgeon from Sri Venkateshwara Medical College, Tirupathi, during which he was elected as leader of House Surgeon's Association in S V Medical College. Upon completion of his MBBS degree, he served as Medical Officer in Church of South India's Campbell Hospital in Jammalamadugu in the Diocese of Nandyal for a brief period. In 1973, Reddy established a 70-bed charitable hospital at Pulivendula in the name of his father, Sri Y. S. Raja Reddy. The hospital continues to serve the poor to date. His family established one Polytechnic and one degree college in Pulivendula which were later handed over to the well-known Loyola institutions.
Political career
Reddy has an eventful 25-year political career to date. He started his career as samithi president and later served as a youth congress leader. In the ensuing elections in 1978, he won on the Indian National Congress ticket at the age of 28. He served as minister in Tanguturi Anjaiah cabinet for a brief period. Sensing a potential leader, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi entrusted him with Pradesh Congress Committee resident when he was 34 years old. Dr. Reddy represented Kadapa contstituency as Member of Parliament of India for four times and similar number of times as Member of legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh from Pulivendula constituency. Reddy holds the record of being never lost an election.
Padayatra
Reddy, the then Leader of the Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, took up padayatra for 64 days in the summer of 2003 which stretched to an extent of 1500 km from Chevella in the Telengana to Itchapuram. He went to every nook and corner of the State relaying the message of Empathy for the struggling sections of soceity. His Yatra was well received across all sections bringing him close to the poor and rural people.
As Chief Minister
Reddy, after taking oath as chief minister, owed a lion's share of state's funds to agriculture. His decision of free power to farmers has become controversial. His policies always revolved around supporting agriculture by giving sops to small and marginalized farmers, along with building new infrastructure. The first two years of his tenure have seen a large sum of Rs.16000 Crore being spent for building irrigation projects. Dr. Reddy has given Andhra Pradesh a new face-lift with a pro-poor and pro-farmer as well as investor-friendly and mainly rural oriented policies.
Jala Yagnam
'Jalayagnam' has been implemented by Reddy as an election promise to the farmers of Andhra Pradesh to double the area under irrigation in five years. This project accords the highest priority for the development of irrigation infrastructure. It comprises a number of irrigation projects, construction of new reservoirs and lift irrigation systems, and to divert water from major rivers through canals. Also it includes the linking up of two major rivers: the Godavari and the Krishna.
It comprises 32 major and 17 medium irrigation projects, which are estimated to cost ex-chequer Rs. 65,000 crores to provide irrigation to an extent of 7,100,000 acres (28,000 km²) besides stabilization of an existing ayacut of 3,600,000 acres (15,000 km²), while providing drinking water to a population of 1.2 crore and generating power to the tune of 2700 MW to meet industrial needs.
Harithandhra Pradesh
Reddy, in the capacity of Chief Minister, has waived arrears of power bills related agricultural consumption to the tune of Rs.1192 crore. Free power to farmers was introduced as another election promise, which is often criticized as impractical by many elites. However, the programme is still in implementation despite being a heavy budren to state's economy.
The state government has announced a Special Package of Relief & Rehabilitation for the distressed farmers, providing succour and financial relief for them. Aimed at economic empowerment of farmers, the State government has set up “ Agricultural Technology Mission” (ATM) with effect from 15 January 2006.
Indiramma programme
Indiramma programme - an acronym for Integrated Development In Rural Areas and Model Municipal Areas, seeking to achieve integrated development of the State was launched by Reddy on 30 March 2006. Under the programme, the Government would lay roads, construct houses and classrooms, and take up other development programmes. This programme is estimated to benefit rural economy by improving the existing infrastructure.
Religious background
According to Jayamma, the mother of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, it was his grandfather who was converted by Father Rolls, a British missionary. When asked "Was there any reason for the conversion?" Jayamma stated "We realised Jesus is the real god" [4]. The family was ostracised by the local community and decided to move out of the village [5]. In 1947 the Church of South India was formed and his father began to attend the Church Services of this congregation.
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy asked the Seventh-day Adventists to build a church on his estate [6] for his workers who converted to Christianity. The funding came from USA-based Marantha Organization, the decision to support missionary activity in India was taken during the 2004 convention[1].
Controversies
There have been suspicions voiced by Hindu groups over Reddy's perceived biases. They suggest that he has used his position to bring Christian institutions into the decision-making loop of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams,[2] which governs Hinduism's most visited shrine, and that he may even be facilitating a church to be built on the holy hills of Tirumula.[3] Suspicions were aroused due to a sudden proliferation of churches along the roads leading to the holy shrine, and a recent auction of Hindu temple land in Tirumala being hastily called off when it became known that Christian groups were attempting to make a bid.[4]
The Da Vinci Code film was not permitted in theatres by the Andhra Pradesh administration while it was headed by Reddy.[5] In a press release, Special secretary (Home department) Mr. Paul Bhuyan justified the ban stating [6]
Reddy, who claims to have come from a middle-class family, reported in December 2006 that his family unethically owned 618 acres of land[7] in violation of the Land Ceiling Act; he claimed that he did not know he was over the limit. The opposition parties asked for his resignation for this violation of the law.[8]
On 3 January 2007 he surrendered 997 acres of land in Kadapa district belonging to him and his family members, for distribution to the poor.[9].
References
- ^ http://news.adventist.org/data/2004/09/1098824891/index.html Maranatha Convention Affirms Volunteer Efforts in India
- ^ Glimpses19 - HinduWisdom
- ^ Swamijis denied entry at Tirumala Temple - CA
- ^ Saving Tirumala - The Pioneer
- ^ :
- "The minority organisations had pointed out that the film's story line attacked the very heart of the Holy Gospel destroying the divinity of Lord Jesus Christ. It might lead to unrest among the semi-literate and illiterate rural folk following the faith, they had further warned."
- ^ "'The Da Vinci Code' screening cancelled in A.P." The Hindu - Andra Pradesh News
- ^ http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=140008
- ^ http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/13ap.htm
- ^ The Hindu. "YSR surrenders yet 997 acres more" [1]