Return of NTR, with a bang

Like grandfather, like grandson.

Thirteen years after NTR died, another NTR was back on Saturday, campaigning for his uncle’s political future.

NTR Junior, a Telugu film actor with two blockbusters under his belt, turned the clock back by 15 years as young men and women jostled for a glimpse of the late Andhra icon’s grandson in Tekkali, about 610km north-east of Hyderabad.

The young actor took the coastal town, where NTR had won in 1994, by storm as he campaigned for the alliance of the Telugu Desam, led by uncle Chandrababu Naidu, Telengana Rashtra Samiti, the CPI and the CPM for the coming polls.

Few could distinguish between NTR and his grandson, who had the same looks, way of speaking and close-to-heart approach with people. Asked by some elders how he learnt to speak like NTR, the young actor quipped: “My Tata (grandfather) taught me.”

Even veterans like former NDA minister K. Yerran Naidu were dumbstruck by the adoration NTR Junior enjoyed and his public oratory. “He is a chip of the old lion,” said the leader of the Desam parliamentary party.

NTR Junior is the son of N.T. Rama Rao’s third son, Harikrishna. He made his debut in Telugu films with Ramoji Rao’s Student Number One and has starred in more than 20 films.

Jr NTR mother concerned about his health

The mother of Junior NTR enquired about his health over phone on Sunday morning when he was getting ready for the road shows from a make-shift night halt camp. She was anguished that he was moving around in the sun.



The star campaigner revealed this at a road show and said that he tried to calm down his mother that he was overjoyed by the affection shown by the crowds everywhere ignoring the hot sun and urged her not to worry.



Junior NTR praised the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, as a competent driver to steer the Andhra Pradesh bus in the right direction. “He drove it successfully for nine years by developing all major sectors. Later, he handed over the bus to Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy who has been steering the iron body after selling the engine. Another trainee driver is aspiring to handle the same steering. However the commuters (public) are demanding Mr Naidu for a safe and healthy drive,” he said.

Free 12-hour power to ryots

HYDERABAD: Creation of AP State Agricultural Development Authority, 12-hour free power to farmers during the day, a one-time debt relief on farm loans not waived in 2008 and setting up a Rs.1,000-crore price stabilisation fund are among the proposals in the Telugu Desam’s draft agriculture policy to be included in its manifesto.

Releasing the draft here on Sunday, party president N. Chandrababu Naidu said the authority, to be headed by the Chief Minister, would adopt a modern and holistic approach to render agriculture profitable by ensuring higher productivity at lesser cost. The MSP would be in accordance with the M. S. Swaminathan committee’s recommendations.

The authority would offer special incentives to promote agriculture-based industries in villages, set up cold storage chains to curb post-harvest losses. It would prepare soil health cards to increase productivity. Small and marginal farmers would be given interest-free loans up to Rs. 25,000. Big ryots would be given loans at three per cent interest. A tripartite agreement between private seed company, government and farmer would be revived.

The other initiatives include establishment of a State commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, providing insurance cover for motors used by farmers (the government will meet the cost of repairs and replacement), a 75 per cent subsidy on modern farm implements, abolition of MV Tax on tractors, trailers and harvesters and 90 per cent subsidy on drip irrigation.
SEZ law

Mr. Naidu said the irrigation cess would be abolished and Rs. 500-crore fund set up to provide compensation to farmers for losses suffered due to natural calamities. Crop insurance would be extended to all crops, besides launching a pension scheme. The SEZ law would be reviewed and lands taken forcibly from farmers would be returned to them. Terming coastal corridor project as a ‘fraud’, he said it would be abolished.