Telugu Desam Party general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Tuesday demanded that the farmers who lost their lands for irrigation projects be paid compensation as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act-2013.

The affected farmers of the Gajuladinne project met Lokesh during his ongoing pada yatra ‘Yuva Galam’ and submitted a memorandum in which they wanted the TDP to take up the issue of payment of proper compensation for them.

They said that though the cost of the land in their villages is over Rs 30 lakh per acre, the State Government is paying only Rs 4.2 lakh per acre for those who lost their lands for the Gajuladinne project.

Responding to their request, Lokesh said that the State Government can not forcibly take the lands from farmers without their consent. Even if the farmers give their consent, the compensation should be paid as per the norms, he said. Lokesh promised them that the TDP will soon write to the State Government to pay the compensation as per the norms.

The farmer of Kiravadi village in Yemmiganur Assembly segment told Lokesh that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, is now feeling totally insecure after his paternal uncle’s murder has taken a serious turn and thus neglecting the farmers in the State. The TDP will certainly resolve all their issues once the party is back in power, he said.

When Puttapasam villagers informed Lokesh that they did not get the housing benefits, he said that the ruling of Jagan is publicity is in its peak and the matter is weak. Once the TDP forms the government again the houses already constructed will be distributed to the beneficiaries and new units will be constructed to provide the benefit for others, Lokesh maintained.

Terming the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) as total bogus, TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Friday said that not even a single farmer in the State has received any kind of benefit from these centres.

In a close interaction with farmers at Machapuram of Yemmiganur Assembly segment, Lokesh said that the farming community is the worst-hit during the YSRCP rule. Calling Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, as a holiday CM as he declared a crop holiday, power holiday and aqua holiday, Lokesh said that the State Cabinet never reviewed the issues being faced by the farmers.

Jagan has promised Rs 10 lakh each for the families of those farmers who resort to suicides but till now he has not come to the rescue of a single family, Lokesh remarked. The TDP national leader declared Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance to the family members of Rangamma, a Dalit farmer, and said that soon after the party is back in power Rs 10 lakh ex gratia will be paid to the family.

Asking as to why Jagan’s photos are printed on the cover page of the passbooks issued to the farmers, Lokesh said that the Chief Minister completely ignored drip irrigation which is a boon to the farmers in Rayalaseema. Recalling that the TDP, while in power, has waived Rs 50,000 loan to every farmer and seeds, fertilisers and pesticides were also supplied in high subsidy, Lokesh said that not only there is a steep hike in the prices of all farm chemicals and seeds but also spurious seeds, fertilisers and pesticides are being supplied to the farmers.

Observing that the cotton farmers are suffering heavily due to the negligence by the State Government, Lokesh asked as to why action is not being initiated against those who are selling spurious seeds and other such products. He assured the farming community that immediately after the TDP is back in power stringent action will be taken against such elements who are cheating farmers.

The sand mafia is ruling the roost in the State after the YSRCP came to power and once the TDP is back into ruling stringent measures will be taken against this mafia, observed Nara Lokesh, TDP general secretary and former minister.

During his Yuva Galam pada yatra, the villagers of Chetnihalli and Madhavarm of Mantralayam Assembly segment told Lokesh that the roads not only in their village but in the neighbouring areas too, are getting badly damaged due to the regular transport of sand and no measures are taken to repaid these roads following which they are facing problems.

Maintaining that the sand mafia will be completely controlled once the TDP forms the government again, Lokesh promised the villagers that all the measures will be taken to solve their problems. He told them that the TDP always accords highest priority for providing basic amenities in rural areas.

When Lokesh had an interaction with Valmiki and Boya community people at Mantralayam, they said that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has taken them for a ride by not fulfilling the promise that they will be given the ST status. Also, they are not getting any benefits that are being given for BCs and that they are not getting any welfare schemes.

Promising a separate legislation will be enacted for the safety and security of BCs once the TDP is back in power, Lokesh promised them that even the expenses for legal fight for them will be met by the next government. Funds will be allocated to BCs as per their population ratio, he said and assured them that the Adarana scheme will also be revived.

Though the TDP, when in power, passed a resolution in the Assembly that the Satyapal Committee recommendations be implemented, now Jagan who took the Boyas and Valmiks for a ride for the past four years, has now decided to include these two communities to give ST status only in four districts, Lokesh remarked.

TDP has already taken a decision to set up a High Court bench at Kurnool soon after the party is back in power, said TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh on Sunday.

“Ruling should be from one place and the development should be decentralised,” is the policy of the TDP, said Lokesh during an interaction with advocates at Kuppagallu in Adoni Assembly segment during his Yuva Galam pada yatra on Sunday.

Making it clear that the TDP will not deceive the people like the YSRCP, Mr Lokesh pointed out that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, says that the High Court will be set up only in Rayalaseema while Minister for Finance, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, says that the High Court will be shifted to Visakhapatnam.

“But the fact remains otherwise. The State Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court of India that the Andhra Pradesh High Court will be retained in Amaravathi,” Lokesh explained. Pointing out that the Jagan Government till now has not even allotted land for the High Court, the TDP national general secretary asked the advocates to realise these facts.

The TDP has already taken a decision to set up a High Court bench in Kurnool and it will be implemented soon after the party is back in power, he said.

Lokesh felt that it is not correct to simply blame the legal wing that several cases are pending disposal without creating even basic facilities and not allocating necessary funds for the department. “The TDP will certainly provide the necessary funds and all the facilities needed for the Law Department,” he added.

Admitting that with the cooperation of the advocates the atrocities of the Jagan Government could be controlled to a certain extent, Lokesh promised stipend for junior lawyers and all the problems of the advocate community will be resolved on a war-footing basis once the TDP is into government.

The former chairman of the Mangalagiri Sivalayam Trust Board and AP Padmashali Union working president, Munagapalti Venkateswara Rao, joined the TDP in the presence of Lokesh at Kuppagallu during lunch break. Munagapati’s son and his brother too joined the TDP and Mr Lokesh welcomed them into the party.

The Yuva Galam pada yatra of TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, touched the 1000 km milestone at Siriguppa Cross of Adoni Assembly segment on Friday.

Profusely thanking all the party activists, who solidly stood by him to reach another milestone of 1000 km, Lokesh called upon his supporters to continue the same spirit till the goal is reached.

”Despite the State Government trying to create several hurdles to the pada yatra, the TDP activists solidly stood by me and supported my mission to end this anarchic rule in the State. I sincerely thank all of them for their support and I also request them to continue the same spirit till we reach the goal,” Lokesh observed.

At least 13 committees are playing a crucial role besides 100 volunteers, in making the pada yatra a grand success. In Adoni town the locals gathered in large numbers to have a glimpse of Lokesh and complained to him about the spiralling prices of essentials and other items. Lokesh promised to take necessary measures to control the price rise once the TDP is back in power.

The affected people of Adoni bypass road told Lokesh that the bypass road construction is against the norms of the master plan of Adoni. Assuring the affected that the TDP will certainly stand by them, Lokesh told them that the party will also inform the National Highway Authority of India about the violations. To grab the lands and to increase the prices of such grabbed lands the YSRCP is ready to violate any guidelines, he added.

The Rayalaseema Parirakshana Students Federation leaders met Lokesh and submitted a memorandum in which they wanted permanent buildings for government hostels in Adoni. Lokesh said that soon after the TDP forms the government again, it will initiate measures to check migrations of students and also improve the condition of educational institutions.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who claims to be the son of Rayalaseema soil till now, did not take any measures to supply even drinking water for the people here, he commented.

The Mala Mahanadu of Adoni met Lokesh and expressed solidarity with him. The TDP national general secretary said that after the YSRCP came to power great injustice is done to Dalits and once the TDP is back in the government all the measures will be taken to protect the community. The Arya Vysya community leaders also expressed their support to Lokesh.

Stating that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, does not know the value of sports, TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Wednesday promised to establish sports university in Rayalaseema once the TDP is ruling again.

“What Jagan, who failed 10th standard, knows about the value of sports. The TDP is fully aware of its importance and I will take personal interest to establish a sports university in Rayalaseema region soon after the TDP forms its government again,” Lokesh told the villagers of Karumanchi of Alur Assembly segment in Kurnool district when they met him during his Yuva Galam pada yatra.

The members of the Backward Classes (BC) community in the village informed Lokesh that they are facing a lot of problems in getting caste certificates and that they are not even getting fee reimbursement. The Vaddera community and Toddy Tappers community too told Lokesh that they are not getting any benefits from this Government.

It is the TDP that promoted the BCs both politically and economically, Lokesh said and added that the party provided 34 per cent reservations in local bodies and appointed BC leaders to key posts. The Jagan Mohan Reddy Government is registering false cases against the BC leaders, he said.

The TDP is committed to the assurance given to Valmikis that they will be given ST status, Lokesh said and promised the BC community members that the TDP, once back in power, will bring in a separate legislation for the safety and security of the community. Neera cafes will be started and reservations will be given for Toddy Tappers community in liquor shops, he said.

Later, the villagers of Kiruppala told Lokesh that they have been making a series of appeals to the district collector for the past four years to arrange a lift irrigation facility to their agricultural lands from the local Vengalaraya Doddi tank but there is no response from the officials. They appealed to Lokesh to provide the lift irrigation facility soon after the TDP came back to power.

Pointing out that the Chandrababu Naidu government has spent Rs 11,000 cr for irrigation projects, Lokesh said that though 90 per cent of the Handri Neeva project works were completed during the TDP regime, the Jagan Government did not take the initiative to complete the remaining 10 per cent works. The party will certainly take up the lift irrigation works once it is back in the government, Lokesh said, adding that basic facilities too will be provided in all the rural areas in the State.

The TDP general secretary also promised the farming community that the Chandranna government that is going to be formed soon will come to the rescue of the farmers. The issue of spurious seeds too will be handled by the coming TDP government, Lokesh added.

Agriculture is in deep crisis after Jagan Mohan Reddy has become the Chief Minister and farmers are the worst affected, said TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Monday.

The State is now in third place in farmers suicide and Jagan never reviewed on insurance to faring community, Lokesh said during an interaction with farmers at Venkatapuram of Alur Assembly segment in Kurnool district during his ongoing Yuva Galam pada yatra. Lokesh promised to bring down the expenditure on farming soon after the TDP comes to power.

Stating that stringent action will be initiated against those who are now selling spurious seeds, Lokesh said that the Vedavathi project will be completed with eight TMC feet capacity. Though the TDP did not win the Alur Assembly seat in 2014, the then chief minister, Chandrabbau Naidu, never neglected this area, he said.

Assuring the farmers that Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be provided for tomato, the TDP national general secretary said that Jagan, who promised rythu rajyam before coming to power, has now turned the State without any farming. Cotton farmers were the worst affected during the YSRCP rule, he said and asked the farmers not to sign on the agreements on meters for motors. “The TDP will certainly stand by you,” he said.

Lokesh asked as to why the remaining works of irrigation projects are not being taken up. Almost 90 per cent of the Handri Neeva project works were completed during the TDP regime, but Jagan did not take any measures to complete the remaining 1o percent works, he pointed out.

As Lokesh’s pada yatra entered the Alur Assembly segment, he was given a warm welcome by the party leaders, Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy, Kotla Sujathamma and Kotla Raghavendra Reddy besides scores of party activists.

Later, the villagers of Gudimiralla met Lokesh and submitted a memorandum to him in which they said that the farmers are not getting MSP for tomatoes and onion. Lokesh promised to pay the MSP once the TDP forms the government again.

TDP’s main aim is to see to it that the farmer always feels happy while Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has zero knowledge on farming and the problems the farming community faces in their day-to-day life, felt TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Friday.

During his Yuva Galam pada yatra, Lokesh met the groundnut farmers in their agricultural fields at Pyapili village of Done Assembly segment and asked how the farming in their area is. Pat came reply from the farmers that the YSRCP Government is not extending any subsidy on drip irrigation following which they are incurring heavy losses on agriculture.

They also complained that because of the supply of spurious seeds there is heavy crop loss due to which they are suffering a lot. The farmers wanted genuine seeds to be supplied and subsidies to be extended on drip irrigation and fertilisers.

Stating that the TDP is committed for the welfare of the farming community, Lokesh pointed out that the Chandrababu Naidu government had introduced several welfare schemes for farmers. Besides drips, 90 per cent subsidy was given on agricultural implements and tractors, he said.

He felt that Jagan has no understanding on farming and is encouraging those who are selling spurious seeds and fertilisers due to which the farmer is suffering. Lokesh promised to bring back all the schemes that were implemented earlier once the TDP is back in power.

Hanumanthurayanipalli villagers met Lokesh during his pada yatra and complained that there is no crop insurance, input subsidy and other benefits now. Responding to them, Lokesh said that in the past four years, Jagan has extended crop insurance only once and the Government is not thinking of extending input subsidy to the farmers.

Earlier, the leaders of the Goat and Sheep Development Cooperative Federation met Lokesh and submitted a memorandum in which they wanted the subsidy which is now 20 per cent be extended to 75 per cent. Lokesh promised to meet their demand soon after the TDP came back to power.

Before beginning his Friday’s pada yatra, Lokesh garlanded the photo of Dr BR Ambedkar at the Gudipadu campsite on the birth anniversary of the Father of the Constitution. Later, he met the mango growers at the campsite, and they wanted a mango board to be constituted. Lokesh assured them that once the TDP is into ruling again, all their demands will be conceded.

Reacting strongly to the complaints of Tadipatri municipal councillors that they are unnecessarily putting a great hardship, TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Thursday warned the officials who are harassing the councillors will have to pay a very heavy price soon.

Some women councillors also informed Lokesh during his Yuva Galam pada yatra at Rayalacheruvu that false cases are being foisted against them only to subject them to mental agony.

“I am aware of all the goings-on here and those who are resorting to such cruel activity will be taken to task and action will be taken against such officials by ordering for a judicial inquiry once the TDP is into power,” Lokesh told them.

At Divalamadugu, the local women narrated to Lokesh that they are getting drinking water from their fields as the pipelines that got damaged have not been repaired by local MLA, Peddareddy. They informed Lokesh that the whole village which has 200 houses has a single borewell and even that is not working properly.

Lokesh promised to supply drinking water to every doorstep immediately after the TDP came back to power. The border villages of Karnataka in Anantapur district are full of liquor and ganja but not drinking water, he said and assured them that the Rayalacheruvu will be filled with drinking water and the pipelines too will be repaired soon after the TDP forms the government.

As Lokesh’s pada yatra ended in the combined Anantapur district, he wrote a letter to the people of the district profusely thanking them for their cooperation. “Even under the hot Sun, you all travelled with me and I will never forget in my life the affection and love you all have shown to me,” Loeksh said in the letter.

The local TDP leaders and party activists gave a fond farewell to Mr Lokesh and the pada yatra entered the combined Kurnool district on Thursday. The TDP leaders and party cadre came in large numbers to welcome Lokesh to Kurnool district at D Rangapuram of Done Assembly segment.

TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Wednesday promised to revive all the welfare measures that were implemented earlier during the TDP regime once the party forms the government again.

During the Yuva Galam pada yatra, the villagers of P Kottalapalli of Tadipatri Assembly segment in Anantapur district met Lokesh and informed him that the welfare schemes for farmers which were in force earlier, have been withdrawn by this Government.

They told Lokesh that the YSRCP Government is neglecting farmers welfare and till now the crop loss has not been assessed though heavy damage was caused to the standing crop in the recent floods.

Observing that during the TDP regime, Chandrababu Naidu’s top priority was farmers welfare, Lokesh promised the villagers that once the party is back in the government, all the schemes will be revived. “We will see to it that the farmer does not suffer in any manner,” Lokesh told the villagers.

Lokesh said that it is really atrocious that an attempt to murder was made on an Army staff member, Samarasimha Reddy, as he invited the TDP leader, Paritala Sriram, for the jatra organised at Tummala village of Dharmavaram mandal in Satya Sai district. The TDP national general secretary demanded the immediate arrest of the Zilla Parishad chairman, Kamireddypalli Sudhakar Reddy, for this murder attempt on an Army staff member.

The farmers of T Kothapalli and youth from Kammavari Palli met Lokesh during the pada yatra and apprised him of the local issues they are facing. Lokesh said that the youth is always given priority during the TDP regime and employment opportunities will be provided in all sectors for the youth once the TDP is back in power. The villagers of Naganur also met the TDP national general secretary.

At Tutralapalli village, Lokesh had a face-to-face programme with representatives of the Reddy community. He said that Reddys were always given highest respect by the TDP and though the former minister, J C Diwakar Reddy, contested against the late NT Rama Rao, the TDP always treated him as a political rival but not as an enemy.

“We have never resorted to personal animosity and never Chandrababu Naidu and the Late Dr YS Rajasekjara Reddy too indulged in personal attacks,” Lokesh observed. The Yuva Galam pada yatra reached Rayalacheruvu of Tadipatri Assembly segment.