Venkaiah Naidu says NTR brought revolution in politics
Former vice-president of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, on Saturday, said that late N T Rama Rao brought revolution in politics. He said NTR had also introduced politics to the common man with his active and vibrant speeches to the people.
Venkaiah Naidu participated in the birth centenary celebrations of NTR held at Tenali. NTR’s daughter Lokeswari, son Ramakrishna were also present at the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Venkaiah Naidu said that NTR touched the hearts of the people through his welfare programmes. NTR gave a socio-economic lift for the poor and the marginalised people in the state, Venkaiah Naidu said.
The former vice-president also said that NTR had encouraged the younger generations to come to politics. NTR had also given support to women to enter politics, besides giving them equal rights in the society including property rights.
He said that NTR was a plain man and had no knowledge of conspiracies and that made him a victim of conspiracy. He was stabbed in the back because of his innocence, Venkaiah Naidu said.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tests positive for Covid-19
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for Covid-19, his office said on Sunday.
Naidu, who is currently in Hyderabad, has decided to remain in self-isolation for a week.
According to a tweet from the official Twitter handle of the Vice President’s Secretariat, he has advised all those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested.
He had arrived in Hyderabad on January 21 from Visakhapatnam after a three-day visit to the port city.
Naidu had reached Visakhapatnam on January 19 from Vijayawada by a special train. He had attended 73rd annual national conference of Indian Psychiatric Society on January 20. The next day, he attended the first convocation of Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy and the same day, he reached Hyderabad.
He was staying at his residence in Hyderabad. Earlier on Sunday, he offered floral tributes to the portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.
Vijay Sai withdraws his slip of tongue against Venkaiah
In his usual hasty style, YCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy yesterday targeted M. Venkaiah Naidu. He said that though Venkaiah’s body was with the BJP, his heart was with the TDP. Immediately, a lot of criticism started coming up against the comment made by Vijay Sai.
Firstly, the YCP MP made the mistake by saying that Venkaiah was still with the BJP. Being the Vice President of the country and by virtue of that position, Venkaiah cannot be seen as belonging to a particular political party. This has put Vijay Sai in a bad light with the MPs and the national leaders of different parties strongly opposing his remarks. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has also condemned the YCP MP’s comments.
Following the rising criticism, Vijay Sai Reddy today announced that he was withdrawing his remarks against the Vice President of India. He said that he spoke those words out of anger and that he was deeply regretting the same now.
The YCP further clarified to one and all that his intention was not to hurt or defame Mr. Venkaiah Naidu. He asserted that he had a lot of respect for the Vice President. Vijay Sai also gave an assurance that he would not make such comments again in future.
Venkaiah Naidu tests positive for Covid
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for coronavirus during a routine test, his office said in a tweet this evening. The 71-year-old, who is in home quarantine, is asymptomatic and in good health, the tweet read.
“The Vice President of India who underwent a routine COVID-19 test today morning has been tested positive. He is however, asymptomatic and in good health. He has been advised home quarantine. His wife Smt. Usha Naidu has been tested negative and is in self-isolation,” the tweet from his office read
Naidu’s wife, Usha, has tested negative and is in self-isolation. Naidu underwent a Covid-19 test on Tuesday morning and was found to be infected.
Naidu, who is also the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, was actively involved during the monsoon session of Parliament which was later cut short due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country.
Jagan master plan to corner Venkaiah on Central funds
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu had good relations with YS Rajasekhara Reddy but he has no rapport with Jaganmohan Reddy. Initially, nothing was wrong between them. Things turned worse after the English medium issue. Jagan Reddy would not tolerate anything but not any minor opposition to his policies and views. Venkaiah constantly made indirect attacks at the YCP government’s proposed removal of Telugu medium in government schools in preference for English medium.
Not only that, Venkaiah is known for his close relations with Sujana Chowdary and CM Ramesh who are known bitter critics of Jagan Reddy policies. There are also reports recently that the Vice President has tried to control Vijayasai Reddy in the Rajya Sabha during a debate. Given all these things, YCP seems to have launched an open attack on Venkaiah.
Already, CM Jagan Reddy badly criticised Venkaiah’s views asking whether only the Vice President’s grand children should study in English medium but not the children of poor families. Now, YCP began a war against Venkaiah by bringing pressure on him to get Rs. 4,724 pending funds released from the Centre to AP. YCP Ministers Kanna Babu, Anil Kumar and Kodali Nani wrote a letter to Venkaiah. No wonder, the Vice President should get prepared for even a more bitter attack.
Violence, democracy do not go together: Vice President
In the backdrop of violence that broke out in various parts of the country during National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that violence and democracy do not go together.
“Dissent has to be expressed in a peaceful manner,” he said at the inaugural event of the birth centenary celebrations here of the late Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, M. Channa Reddy.
The Vice President called for enlightened, meaningful and constructive debate on CAA, NRC and the National Population Register (NPR). “As regards CAA, NRC and NPR, the people of the country should have an enlightened, meaningful and constructive discussion and not jump to hasty conclusions,” said the Vice President, adding “ours is a mature democracy and there is no place in it for violence.”
Naidu called for reforming governance systems in tune with people’s aspirations. He stressed the need for maintaining the dignity of Parliament and legislatures and raising the standards of the debates. He said that personal attacks should not be made, while policies could be criticized.
Stating that dissent or disagreement has to be expressed in a constructive, democratic and peaceful manner, he recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had eschewed violence in all its forms even in the face of the most daunting challenges.
“While protesting against the British rule, he (Mahatma Gandhi) remained civil even towards his adversary. He called off the Non Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident which had turned violent,” he pointed out.
No centralised development in Capital: Venkaiah
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu made cautious remarks loaded with deeper meaning on the AP Capital shifting crisis. He said that he would always support decentralised development. There should be no concentration of all industries, businesses and government projects only in the Capital City. Venkaiah said that developmental projects should be distributed all over the state, especially with an aim to benefit backward regions. He explained that this was why he strongly supported the setting up of AP’s National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Tadepalligudem in West Godavari district rather than its headquarters town on Eluru. Such distribution of projects would ensure balanced development.
Venkaiah told the people that he would not like to comment on the ongoing Capital crisis in AP. He was more concerned with the overall development of the state. But it is well-known that BJP AP leaders have already opposed the decentralisation of administration. They accused CM Jagan Reddy of shifting Capital city to Vizag in the name of decentralisation of power. But Venkaiah carefully avoided talking about shifting of Administrative Capital by Jagan Circar. As of now, the BJP national leaders are taking all the care not to get stuck in AP Capital controversies.
Venkaiah Naidu on the issue of English medium
The Jaganmohan Reddy government has even attacked Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on the issue of English medium. CM Jagan Reddy himself mocked at Venkaiah asking whether the Vice-President’s grandchildren are not studying in English medium schools. Both BJP and TDP leaders objected to this. Now, Venkaiah Naidu took the opportunity and made an appeal once again to the state governments to give education in mother tongue only.
Venkaiah made these remarks at the Governors conference. He asserted that the local language is the lifeline for the culture and traditions of any particular region. It is the duty of each and every person in society to protect their culture by preserving their mother tongue.
Venkaiah said that the State governments should take steps as per the Article 350A of the Constitution to provide education in mother tongue alone. There is a great need to protect and preserve all Indian languages. Venkaiah gave a call for all out efforts to prevent an danger of extinction to any Indian language. Other languages may be learnt as secondary and tertiary preferences only.
India will emerge as 3rd largest economy: Venkaiah
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu spoke as chief guest at ‘Deccan Dialogue’ conclave held at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad. He expressed confidence that the coming economic recession in the world will not have any impact on India as the government is taking all necessary preventive steps. Venkaiah hoped that India would soon emerge as the world’s 3rd largest economy. This is true as per the predictions of international organisations and nations.
Venkaiah’s comments assumed significance as the Modi government at the Centre is working with an aim to make India a $ 5 Trillion Dollar Economy by 2024. There are already estimates that the country would become a $ 3 trillion dollar economy in 2020. Presently, it is $ 2.7 trillion dollar economy.
After returning to power for the second time, Prime Minister Modi is giving priority to provide stimulus to industrial development and investments in the country. He has also given a call to all the state governments to boost industry with good governance in order to help the entire country as a whole to achieve $5 trillion dollar goal.
TDP RS MPs give letter to Venkaiah to merge to BJP
What is expected has come true. TDP received a big blow when Chandrababu Naidu is on foreign tour. Four Rajya Sabha MPs have finally left the party and are joining the BJP. They met RS Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and gave a letter to identify them as a separate group attached to the ruling BJP. The four MPs are Y Sujana Chowdary, CM Ramesh, TG Venkatesh and Garikipati Mohan Rao.
The TDP MPs have already met BJP President Amit Shah. He has given a green signal for the their joining into the BJP. There are technical issues coming as hurdles for the MPs. This is why they will be working as an independent group in Rajya Sabha but giving support to the BJP.
The TDP MPs issue created political sensation in the national politics. This has given a new boost to the BJP which is looking for greater strength in the Upper House.
Venkaiah heaps praise on Maharshi team
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu viewed Mahesh Babu’s blockbuster film ‘Maharshi’, the journey of Rishi, along with his family members. He was all praise for the Superstar, director Vamsi Padipalli and producers for making a socially relevant film with a strong message to the present day youth.
Venkaiah expressed happiness that the film makers chose a good story set against the traditional rural backdrop. The depiction of farmers’ hard work and their never-ending problems was also very effective and relevant. Naidu said that the film was an eye-opener for not only the average viewer but also the political fraternity.
The Maharshi team has been elated over the stupendous success of the film. It is drawing praise from all sections of viewers. Venkaiah said that such message-oriented films should be viewed along with family members.
గ్రామీణ ప్రజల సౌభాగ్యాన్ని, వ్యవసాయ ప్రాధాన్యతను గుర్తుకు తెచ్చిన చిత్రం ‘మహర్షి’. సహజమైన చక్కని నటన కనబరిచిన కథానాయకుడు శ్రీ మహేష్ బాబు, చక్కగా చిత్రీకరించిన దర్శకుడు శ్రీ వంశీ పైడిపల్లి, నిర్మాతలతో పాటు చిత్ర బృందానికి అభినందనలు తెలియజేస్తున్నాను @urstrulyMahesh @directorvamshi pic.twitter.com/4F6cQFYl1C
— VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) May 14, 2019
Ballot more powerful than bullet: Venkaiah Naidu
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu is presently on a visit to the temple town of Tirupati in AP. Delivering a speech at a meeting, he said that violence and destruction would appear to solve problems but it was never proven correct. Nobody would be able to bring change of any good sort by resorting to killings in the name of a public cause, he said.
Without directly referring to recent killing of TDP MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao in Araku valley, the Vice President deplored that innocent tribals were suffering on account of this violence. He said that it would be through peaceful means and discussions, one could get any solution. “Violence won’t solve problems. Ballot is always more power than bullet”, said Mr. Venkaiah.
He also said that civil liberties were meant for peacefully living and law abiding civilians, and not for those who are resorting to killings and violence. He wondered as to why the vocal supporters of civil liberties were now keeping silent without making any statement to condemn the MLA’s killing.
The Vice President had darshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy atop Tirumala Hills. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy also visited the temple during the day.
TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, JEO Srinivasa Raju and others accorded temple honours to the Vice President. Mr. Venkaiah Naidu was welcomed at the Mahadwaram and he received ‘aaseervachanam’ at the Ranganayakula Mandapam from vedic pandits.
Speaking after darshan, Mr. Venkaiah said that he came to seek blessings of the Lord on completion of one year in office as Vice President. He also prayed for progress and prosperity of Indian people. He instructed the TTD officials to make available all necessary facilities to ensure a heart warming darshan for devotees.
G. Ravikiran
Venkaiah Naidu’s Advice to Renuka Chowdhury on Weight Has Rajya Sabha Laughing Out Loud
In a jocular vein, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday asked Congress member Renuka Chowdhury to lose weight and make efforts to increase the weight of her party.
The remarks evoked peals of laughter in the House, which witnessed several light moments during the farewell speeches of retiring members who are about to complete their tenure.
“He (Naidu) knows me from many kilos before. Sir, many people worry about my weight but in this job, you need to throw your weight around,” Chowdhury said in her farewell speech.
To this, Naidu wittily responded, saying “My simple suggestion is, reduce your weight and make efforts to increase the weight of the party”. The reparte led to peals of laughter in the House.
In another such moment, Chowdhury recalled that during her political journey in the Upper House, she was fortunate for being “the entire Opposition’s united candidate to contest against Najma Heptullah for the Deputy Chair here”.
This led Naidu immediately quip: “That would have solved many problems.” Chowdhury said from Shah Bano to Surpanakha, she has been a witness to history in the making in the House.
“The lot of women has not improved tremendously. It is a pathetic 11 percent even now (women’s strength in Rajya Sabha). I really think we need more women,” she said.
Rajni Patil, also of the Congress, said it was destiny that she did not get a full tenure either in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, to which Naidu said, “then you go to Lok Sabha again,” which again evoked laughter across the House.
She also alleged discrimination against women members of Parliament, calling for a change in the mindset and urged the ruling dispensation for early passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
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Venkaiah Naidu Concluding Speech in Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 5th March
I am reading this out with a heavy heart, and I hope everyone will understand. With the 1st part of the 245th session of Rajya Sabha coming to an end, we shall meet again after a month. I am deeply pained for the utter disregard for the parliamentary procedure and the unruly behaviour, so unbecoming of the high position we occupy in the society as parliamentarians.
Dear members, the question I have been asking myself, and probably many Indians watching the live parliament sessions on the television screens would be thinking, ‘can we ever make our parliament an effective instrument of change through informed debate, constructive criticism and orderly proceedings? I was hoping that we shall collectively strive to uphold and maintain the dignity, sanctity and supremacy of parliament, as we treated in 2012 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the sitting of the Parliament. I shall still keep hoping that we shall exercise the necessary restraint and behave with appropriate civility and dignity. I find it a sad commentary that on the functioning, that we had nearly 10 hours during this brief session due to disruptions and forced adjournments. We could not have question hour on 5 days, and no zero hours on 5 days.
Dear members, we certainly should not go in this manner, any longer. I appeal to each one of you please consider this as a sacred institution which should reflect the hopes and aspirations of 130 crore people.
This is not aimed at any party. As far as the chair is concerned, I’m concerned about the house.
it is the institution that decides the destiny and charts the direction of national development. That’s why people have high hopes for us.
We are so privileged to be in this house because of the people’s trust in us. We must use the opportunity wisely by debating, discussing and evolving solutions to a vast number of public concerns. Let us not have slanged matches between parties and stoop down to competing with each on unparliamentary language or behaviour. When we meet again in March, it is my fervent hope and earnest appeal to each one of you, that we turn a new leaf in our parliament history through orderly informed and constructive debate.
Honourable members over the last few days, I have been telling the floor leaders of the quality debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President.
I request every one of you to please keep the prestige, the decorum of this august house. We are supposed to be elder. So keep that in mind and respond in such a manner, so that the prestige of the house goes up. I am keen that such atmosphere and quality debates will become a regular feature like we had in the recent past.
Venkaiah Naidu lauds PSEs for contribution to economic growth
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that the Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) have contributed immensely to the country’s economic growth.
Inaugurating the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) here, he said PSEs helped the country in building a sustained industrial base and technological competencies in a number of areas.
He congratulated NMDC, the largest iron ore mining company, for earning a profit of Rs 4,293 crore (before tax) in financial year 2016-17 and thus emerging as one of the top profit-making Navratna PSEs in the country.
Naidu also commended NMDC for bringing the entire area of Bastar in Chattisgarh to the mainstream of civilization by opening up mines and employing tribals in the area.
He said the mining industry is contributing around 2.2-2.5 per cent of India’s overall GDP, it is far below the potential of India’s rich mineral resources, which have to be explored and fully tapped.
Stating that the country is on a high growth path, the Vice President said it needs more steel raw materials to build its infrastructure and strengthen its manufacturing base.
He noted that NMDC is implementing its strategic management plan to achieve 67 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) production capacity by 2021-22 and is also well poised to reach 100 MTPA production capacity by 2030.
Naidu said that NMDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in remote backward areas of Chattisgarh which face problem due to left-wing extremism are commendable.
NMDC has spent Rs 798 crore on CSR initiatives in the last five years, he said.
Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said that India will soon become a steel export country as the industry is poised to witness a growth of 8 to 10 per cent. He said the 3 MTPA green field steel plant at Nagarnar, Chattisgarh will bring much needed development in the entire region.
Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Y. S. Chowdary said that NMDC is adopting eco-friendly practices and safe mining procedures.
‘Padmavati’ row: Naidu says no right to take law in hands, nor hurt sentiments
Amid a raging row over “Padmavati”, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that nobody has the right to take law into their hands, but at the same time nobody has the right to hurt others sentiments.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Times Litfest, Naidu emphasised that inciting violence or unlawful activities as a way of protest such as announcing bounty on some people’s heads was “unacceptable”.
“Now this new problem has come related to some film. Some people feel that it is hurting the sentiments of this community or that community and then they protest. Some of them go out of the way and announce rewards. This is not acceptable,” he said, without naming anyone.
“You have a right to protest in a democratic manner. Go to appropriate authorities and complain to them. Take the recourse in a democratic way but you cannot physically obstruct. And you cannot give violent threats,” he said.
“You don’t have a right to take law into your hands. At the same time you don’t have the right to hurt the sentiments of others. That is a reality,” he said, adding that some people are quite “selective” in their criticism.
He said respecting others’ sentiments and feelings is the “essence of our culture”.
A controversy has been raging over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama “Padmavati” with several organisations, mainly from the Rajput community, opposing release of the movie on the grounds it “distorts history”. Fringe elements have also announced rewards on the heads of actress Deepika Padukone and film director Bhansali.
The Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer was scheduled to be released on December 1, but it has now been deferred.
Referring to an article in a newspaper, Naidu said in the past too films have faced bans and obstructions and mentioned “Aandhi” and “Garam Hava” as some examples.
“Aandhi” (1975) whose protagonist had striking similarities with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was banned after 26 weeks of release. “Garam Hava” was held up by the censor board for eight months.”
Speaking on Parliamentary democracy, Naidu said that it was not important as to how many days Parliament meets, the important thing was for how many days “it functions”.
Naidu said people have a right to disagree but first they “must learn to respect the majority and the people’s mandate”.
Naidu also said that while dissent was agreeable, “disintegration is not acceptable”.
“That is the bottom line and any attempt to undermine integrity and unity of India by forces inimical to growth of India must be nipped in the bud,” he said in reference to last year’ Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) controversy.
Vice President for discouraging families owning more cars
Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday called for discouraging families from owning more cars, ensuring parking spaces before registering a car in metro cities, and for hiking parking fee in congested areas.
He also underlined the need for initiating a shift to clean fuels, retiring old polluting vehicles, strengthening mass transportation, and promoting use of electric vehicles.
He suggested a rule to make it mandatory for a one to show the certificate that he has parking space before registering his car.
Naidu mooted the proposals while inaugurating 10th Urban Mobility India (UMI) conference cum exhibition here.
The Vice President noted that it has become fashion even for small families to own more cars and called for discouraging the trend, cautioning that unless such steps were taken, it will be difficult to meet the challenge of easing congestion in cities and controlling the pollution.
“Many of the environmental challenges in the urban transport sector are rooted in its reliance on the non-renewable fossil fuel to propel private motor vehicles,” he said.
He said urged the planners and policymakers to decongest the cities by going for satellite towns, better public transport facilities, providing incentives for creating infrastructure, ensuring cycling tracks and pedestrian path and motivating people to change their lifestyle.
“A holistic and integrated approach to urban land use and transport planning and investment is needed if urban areas are to become socially, environmentally and economically sustainable,” he said.
He said the cities need to have smart leaders with vision, courage and conviction to raise revenues, remove encroachments and have some regulation.
Naidu said that the public transport is the need of the hour. “There is no other way. While private motorisation cannot be wished away completely, providing an affordable, comfortable, reliable and safe public transport can reduce the demand of private motorised vehicles.”
“High capacity public transport systems are needed to reduce the negative externalities like air and noise pollution, accidents and greenhouse gas emissions,” he added.
Naidu noted that Metro rail has seen a rapid growth in many cities with Delhi taking the lead.
“Metro is the flavour of the day. There is clamour for it but it’s not sufficient,” he said underlining the need for circular railway and electrical buses.
Naidu also stressed the need for ensuring last mile connectivity, integration between various modes of transport, integration of land use and transport planning, Transit Oriented Development (TOD), innovative financing and land value capture, and public private partnership.
