Tributes to YSR in AP; hailed as architect of welfare

AMARAVATI: Glowing tributes were paid to former chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy on the occasion of his death anniversary in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. Several events were organised largely by the leaders and cadre of the YSRCP to mark the occasion where the welfare measures initiated by the legendary leader were recalled with fondness.

At a commemoration ceremony organised at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, a battery of party leaders paid rich tributes to YSR. Party general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, Minister Kottu Satyanarayana, MLCs Lella Appi Reddy, Kalpanatha Reddy and Janga Krishna Murthy, MP Nandigam Suresh and AP Women's Commission Chairperson Vasireddy Padma were among the leaders who garlanded the bust of YSR and recollected his invaluable services as the chief minister of erstwhile combined state of Andhra Pradesh.

In Vijayawada, former minister Vellampalli Srinivas led the YSRCP leaders in their homage to Dr YSR. The area around the tall YSR statue near the police control room in the city came alive as leaders made a beeline to the place. They garlanded the statue and paid obeisance to the leader, they described as the tallest of leaders hailing from the state.

Speaking on this occasion, Vellampalli Srinivas said that, thanks to the welfare schemes that he initiated, Dr YSR continued to be in the hearts of the masses. Hailing YSR as the architect of welfare raj, he listed out the schemes introduced by the legendary leader.

In Gollapudi of Vijayawada rural mandal, Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad inaugurated the YSR Ghat on the banks of river Krishna to commemorate Dr YSR's death anniversary. Following religious prayers, a mass-feeding programme was also conducted on this occasion. Newly constructed buildings for Rythu Bharosa Kendram 1 and 2 were also inaugurated by the MLA and district Collector Dilli Rao.

In Allagadda of Nandyal district, Gangula Prabhakar Reddy, YSRCP whip in Legislative Council, MLA Gangula Brijender Reddy led a host of party leaders and activists in paying glowing tributes to the legendary leader. Floral tributes were paid to the statues of YSR while the leader's portraits were also set up at several key areas of the town for the people to pay their reverence to him.

Several commemorative events were organised in Vakadu and other parts of Nellore district on the occasion of YSR's death anniversary on Friday. Nedurumalli Ram Kumar Reddy and many others were among those who paid homage to the former chief minister.

In Srikakulam district, Minister Seediri Appalaraju garlanded the statue of YS Rajasekhara Reddy and paid rich tributes to the leader. While praising YSR and his son and Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy for their pioneering efforts in taking welfare to the people in right earnest, Appala Raju slammed the opposition TDP, Jana Sena and the yellow media for their attempts to paint a negative picture of the state. He appealed to the people to resist such destabilising moves.