Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and his 'foster son' Pawan Kalyan of deceiving the women of Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at a large public gathering in connection with the YSR Cheyutha program held at Pisinikada in Anakapalle district on Thursday, Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan misled the public by disregarding their election manifesto and failing to fulfill promises made under schemes named after Maha Lakshmi, Kuteera Lakshmi, and Pandanti Bidda prior to the 2014 elections.
"The two leaders distributed signed copies of the manifesto door-to-door, promising a Rs 14,205 crore loan waiver for self-help groups, a subsidy on 12 cylinders per year at Rs 100 each, the establishment of a women protection force, a deposit of Rs 25,000 via the Maha Lakshmi scheme for every girl child born, the abolition of belt shops, Rs 10,000 assistance under the Pandanti Bidda scheme, and the distribution of cycles for school-going girls and smartphones for women," the CM stated.
"However, after assuming power in 2014, Naidu and Pawan Kalyan disregarded the manifesto, despite naming the schemes after Goddess Maha Lakshmi," he continued, cautioning voters that the TD and JS are now appealing to them in the name of Maha Shakti and other schemes.
"Chandrababu, who epitomizes deceit, lacks respect even for Goddess Maha Lakshmi, to the extent that he deceives people in her name," he added.
In contrast, Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted that the YSRC government has initiated various welfare schemes to empower women economically.
Over the past 58 months, the efforts of the state government have led to 1,69,000 women opening Kirana shops, 85,630 women launching cloth shops, 3,80,466 women purchasing buffaloes and cows, 1,34,514 women owning goats, 88,923 women engaging in food products business, 3,98,422 women selling agricultural-related products, and 2,59,997 women managing other businesses.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister highlighted that his government has allocated 50% of nominated posts to women through special legislation, appointed women police officers at village and ward secretariats, and filled 50% of positions with women.
He noted that the Disha App, designed for women's safety, has been downloaded by 1.3 crore women across Andhra Pradesh.
He urged the public to discern the distinction between the Chandrababu Naidu-led TD, which lacks political integrity, and the YSRC, which has fulfilled 99% of its electoral pledges.
