Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu has claimed that the welfare measures his government introduced during 1995-2004 resulted in the economic prosperity and educational advancement of Muslims in the State while minorities in other States continue to languish in poverty and illiteracy

Syed Akbar
Tirupati, May 27: Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N
Chandrababu Naidu has claimed that the welfare measures his government
introduced during 1995-2004 resulted in the economic prosperity and
educational advancement of Muslims in the State while minorities in other
States continue to languish in poverty and illiteracy.
“Justice Rajendra Sachchar Commission appointed by the UPA government at
the Centre pointed out in its report that Muslims in Andhra Pradesh are
educationally and economically better placed as compared with their
counterparts in other States in India. Muslims are better off in Andhra
Pradesh because of the series of welfare measures the Telugu Desam
government had undertaken in the State. The Congress and other governments
elsewhere failed to uplift the lot of Muslims and this is the reason why
they are backward there,” the TD leader observed at the party’s three-day
annual general body meeting, Mahanadu, which began here on Sunday.
The TD supremo, of late, has been laying claim on all success stories in
the State saying that it was the result of his well-planned welfare
schemes and development programmes. Now he claims that Muslims are well
off only because of his Telugu Desam government’s policies.
Chandrababu Naidu, who has now embarked on “Mission Rebuild Telugu Desam”
to prepare the party for the 2009 Assembly elections, laid emphasis on the
welfare of Muslims, backward classes, scheduled castes and tribes, women
and youth in a bid to win back their support. The Mahanadu’s resolutions
were unusually loaded with the talk on welfare and development. Almost
one-third of resolutions the Telugu Desam leadership moved for approval at
the Mahanadu pertained to the welfare sector.
Aware that the votes of minorities play a crucial role in as many as 70
Assembly constituencies, Chandrababu Naidu sought to drive home his
message across the Muslim community that its life and honour and property
will be safe only under the Telugu Desam rule. “The blast at the Mecca
Masjid and the subsequent police firing on innocent people is a clear
indication of the breakdown of law and order in old city. There was no
communal violence when the TD was in power. The police acted with
restraint. Hyderabad got international recognition as the city of growth
and progress. Three years after the Congress came to power, the city is
now linked to terror activities,” he pointed out.
The Mahanadu also moved a condolence resolution on the Mecca Masjid blast.
Chandrababu Naidu and other party leaders stood up in silence as mark of
respect to 14 people killed in the blast and subsequent police firing.
“Appease minorities” was evident all through the discussion on “welfare
resolutions” the TD discussed and adopted on the first day.