Even as Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is struggling to implement his pre-election promises on various welfare schemes, former Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu gave him a piece of his mind on the same.
Speaking at a felicitation function in Vijayawada on the occasion of his 75th birthday celebrations on Sunday, Venkaiah expressed view that there was no need for giving freebies to the people, but the governments should focus on enhancing their income generating skills.
“In my view, the government can provide education and health free of cost to the people. There is no need for other freebies in the name of welfare schemes. This will help both the Centre and the states to overcome financial problems,” he said.
Venkaiah said instead of providing free benefits to the people in the name of schemes, it would be better if they are given training in the employment-oriented programmes, so that they would get employable skills and get the capacity to earn.
Indirectly, the former Vice-President of India was giving an advice to Naidu, who has been struggling to find resources to implement the welfare schemes. But it should have been better such lectures are given before the elections and Naidu should have avoided mentioning the same during his election speeches.
Venkaiah also made an interesting comment on the functioning of the newly-elected MLAs. He said the elected leaders should focus on developmental works, rather than controlling the police officials and revenue authorities at the constituency level.
He took a dig at the political leaders using foul language against their political rivals both inside and outside the assembly and Parliament.
“The people of Andhra Pradesh have taught a fitting lesson in the recent elections to all those who used filthy language against the opponents,” he said.
