PAY TRIBUTE TO RAJASEKHARA REDDY

PAY TRIBUTE TO

RAJASEKHARA REDDY

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy who died in a helicopter crash near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday 2^nd September 2009. Sri Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy, who completed just 110 days in office in his second term, went missing along with two key aides and pilots in a helicopter some where in the vicinity of the dense Nallamalla forest on Wednesday morning. Bell-430 helicopter could not be located since it lost contact with air traffic control authorities at 9.35 am.

The chief minister was on his way from Begumpet air port in Hyderabad to Anuppalle village in chittoor district to take part in a mass contact programme with rural folk. In the helicopter along with the chief minister was his special secretary P. Subramanian, an IAS Officer, and chief secretary Officer ASC Wesley. The Helicopter was piloted by Group Captain S.K Bhatia and Cap M.S Reddy both highly experienced and fully qualified.

After nearly day long helicopter-borne search operations on Wednesday to locate chief minister Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy and his co-passengers. Police and central paramilitary forces continued their search operations on foot late on Wednesday trying to research the point where the missing chopper was thought to be last seen. The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched its state of-the-art sukhoi m.k 30 fighter jet from its Bareilly air base to scan the area.

The search operations resumed by Thursday morning. There were nearly 20 units (each with 30 members) moving on either side of the Atnakur-Rollapenta road stretch at the northern tip of Kurnool district for searching.

The union cabinet on Thursday decided to hold a state funeral for Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash. All central government offices in Andhra Pradesh will remain closed on Friday

In the heart-rending tragedy of Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash. Andhra Pradesh has lost its most charismatic leader and the congress its most politically talented and resourceful chief minister. He became an MLA at the age of 29, a minister two years later and never lost an Assembly or Loksabha election thereafter. A devout Christian, he made pilgrimages to Bethlehem and Tirumala with equal piety showing his broad mindedness. YSR achieved the distinction of being the only congress leader to serve a full five year term as chief minister and was on course for a second full term. He tirelessly presented his mission as the transformation of agriculture and farmers, lives and the ending of agrarian distress.

His death at the age of 60 is the kind of loss the congress will find extremely difficult to recover from. His welfare schemes for the people and pro-poor policies were remarkable. His popular schemes, Arogya sri and Udyogasri, endeared him to the masses. His Jalayagnam project was un paralleled. He came out openly against the demand for a separate Telangana.

YSR will be remembered for his revolutionary welfare schemes for the poor supply of rice at Rs2 a kilo, loans to women at 3 percent interest and pension to the elderly. The best way to pay respect to the departed leader is to take his policies forward.

Dr Reddy was a dynamic politician, able administrator, charismatic mass leader and efficient chief minister. His decision to give free power to millions of poor and his government focus on irrigation projects will always be remembered. His death is a huge loss to India in general, and Andhra Pradesh, in particular. Dr Reddy treated everyone as an equal His death is irreparable loss to the Congress & the Indian community.

Lakhs of people paid their last respects to the former chief minister Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy, when his body was taken round the state Capital. Tearful mourners thronged the sprawling estate nestled between hills when YSR’s body was buried with state honours in line with the decision of the union government. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime minister Man Mohan Singh, AICC general Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Union Home minister P Chidambaram, BJP leader L.K Advani, the former prime minister H.D Deva Gowda paid floral tribute to YSR.

He will be remembered for the successful implementation and expansion of the projects like Jalayagnam. He could establish a rapport with all sections. A true leader is one who is humble, has a smile on his face, and follows pro-poor, pro-women and pro-peasant policies. YSR was definitely a leader of the masses.

YSR was a man of integrity, honesty and simplicity. He was a darling of the masses, committed to the uplift of the poor and downtrodden. His death is an irreparable loss to the nation, particularly the congress. The best tribute to him would be to follow his principles

PROF JOHN KURAKAR