States Watch

Andhra Pradesh

PCC Padayatra Against Naxals

HYDERABAD: The APCC president, Shri K. Keshava Rao, released doves and lit the lamp at Takkellapalli of Ibrahimpatnam mandal in Ranga Reddy district to mark the beginning of his `Gandhi Shanti Sandesh Yatra' on 22 April. The yatra is aimed at spreading the message of peace and non-violence. The Congress entourage passed through Nellevelli and proceeded to interior villages.

On his way back to Mall junction on Nagarjunasagar road, Dr. Keshava Rao said his yatra was also aimed at focusing people's attention on poverty, hunger and deprivation, that could be described as crimes against humanity.

Equally disturbing was the tendency of the Maoists to threaten political leaders in the rural areas who were playing a key role in the implementation of developmental programmes. Threats to sarpanches were making them flee villages affecting the process of governance and depriving people the fruits of several programmes and schemes, he said.

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs, Shri Sunil Dutt, made a similar appeal urging youth to shun violence and tread the Mahatma's path of non-violence to usher in socio-economic change.

The Minister for Mines and Geology, Sabitha Indra Reddy, social activist, Nafisa Ali, advisor to the Chief Minister, K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, Rajya Sabha member, V. Hanumantha Rao, MLA, P. Janardhan Reddy, Pradesh Returning Officer, Daljith Singh, and a host of APCC officer-bearers took part in the `pada yatra'.

Andaman Nicobar

UPA Govt. Carrying Out Effective Relief Work

PORT BLAIR: The relief and rehabilitation work and other related work is being effectively pursued for the people affected by tsunami. Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee president, Shri Manoranjan Bhakto said that the work was being carried out in right earnest and that the party workers were asked not to politicize the relief work and extend help to all without any party criteria.

Shri Bhakto adds that the Congress party submitted a detailed proposal of packages of compensation to fishermen, cultivators, government servants, shop-keepers besides introducing food for work and employment guarantee scheme to provide employment to the affected people.

ANTCC general secretary, Shri C. Mohammed has hailed the United Progressive Alliance government which is doing its best in extending relief and rehabilitation of tsunami affected people irrespective of political affiliation.

Assam

Welfare of Minorities Should be Looked After

GUWAHATI: Former convenor of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Minority Cell, Shri Imran Shah has said that he has asked the party leadership to look seriously into the issues raised by senior minority leader, Shri Golam Osmani regarding the welfare of the minority community. Addressing a press conference on April 26, Shri Shah said that minority leaders have full confidence and faith in the leadership of Chief Minister, Shri Tarun Gogoi and APCC president, Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita. The government has done a lot for the welfare of the minorities, he asserted.

The APCC minority department was dissolved on 23 April along with all the other APCC cells and departments. "We accept the party decision. We are a party that believes in discipline," he claimed.

Shri Shah, who is also a member of the State Minority Development Board, went to great lengths to mention schemes and projects started by the Congress government aimed at the welfare of the minority community. Shri Shah said that the party should look into the complaints and address them if needed.