Babu turns padayatra against graft into victory march

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday termed his padayatra, originally planned as an expression of solidarity to the fast-unto-death by social activist Anna Hazare, as a ‘celebration of the people’s victory.’

Mr Naidu decided to continue with the padayatra which he had announced on Friday even after the news that the Centre had caved in to the social activist’s demands and issued a gazette notification constituting a 10-member Joint Committee of Ministers and civil society activists to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.

The TDP chief’s padayatra went ahead, but in the form of a victory march from Gandhi statue in Ranigunj to Ambedkar statue on Tank Bund.

Leading the padayatra-turned-victory march after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Ranigunj, the TDP chief stated that he launched the yatra to eradicate corruption in society and to extend solidarity to Anna Hazare.

Attributing the rampant corruption prevalent in the country to be one of the major reasons for the country remaining poor, Mr Naidu said that if the government tackles corruption effectively at all levels, the fruits of labour will reach each and everyone.

Describing the Centre’s earlier attempts to draft a Lok Pal Bill as just eyewash, the TDP chief said that his party would intensify its agitation against corruption if the Union government fails to introduce the redrafted Lok Pal Bill by August in Parliament.

Later, Mr Naidu, along with his party cadre, pledged to eradicate corruption from the society at Ambedkar statue on Tank Bund.

TDP MLAs Devender Goud, Mahender Goud, Motkupalli Narasimhulu, former Mayor Teegala Krishna Reddy, Mahila wing president Shobha Hymavathi and city Corporators took part in the padayatra.

Apart from the TDP leaders, citizens from all sections of the society including educationists, intelligentsia, students and others participated in the padayatra and expressed solidarity with Anna Hazare.