Press Releases Archive

Dr. JP to contest from Kukatpally

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be contesting to the Assembly from the Kukatpally constituency in Hyderabad.

The jam-packed Image Garden in Kukatpally, where Dr. JP announced his decision, , reverberated with tumultuous ‘Jai Ho, Jayaprakash’ slogans. The 1000-odd people, who attended the meeting, pledged they would sincerely strive for a historic win to Dr. JP.

In his 40-minute passionate address, punctuated with repeated applause, Dr. JP revealed that “I have never in my life sought any office nor run away from any responsibility”.

“I now humbly bow to the wishes of all of you who, transcending caste and religion, region and language, would like me to represent you in the Assembly.” But Kukatpally is only the starting point; the Lok Satta will change the course of politics in the country, not merely in Andhra Pradesh.”

He appealed to people, who are steeped in despair and despondency over the rotten state of affairs in the country, not to lose hope. “Revolutions around the world take place in the minds of people before they happen on the ground. People in India today are thirsting for change in their heart of hearts. But they don’t believe it will take place, because established parties with money and muscle power, short-term sops and inducements to voters will stage a comeback.”

He asked people to shed their doubts and fears since they have the powerful weapon of vote in their hands. “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Together, we can bring about a silent revolution in the country with our vote.” He quoted a verse from the Upanishads which says, “Sankalpa parimitam drusyam” (the will determines one’s vision) and said, “We could accomplish whatever we visualize.” He wanted the youth, middle classes and women to take the lead in the historic fight for change. “You need not make the supreme sacrifice. All that you have to do is to spare a little time and effort in the interests of your children’s future.”

Dr. JP explained that change meant creation of equal opportunities for growth to all children irrespective of their caste and religion, region and language. It meant enabling people to hold their heads high as sovereigns, by liberating them from their current slavery status and ensuring equal justice to all.

“Political parties have now become the pocket boroughs of a few families or individuals. They invest in elections to reap multifold returns, treating citizens as beggars. They exploit caste, religion, region and language to create vote banks and perpetuate themselves in power.”

“The Lok Satta is committed to providing free universal and quality education and health care and job-oriented skills and employment opportunities to every child, and making agriculture and traditional occupations lucrative. It will create 1250 towns at a cost of Rs.40000 crore spread over five years to provide employment opportunities to five million people. It will make a per capita grant of Rs.1000 to every village and town so that people at the grassroots can spend it on projects they need, without looking to authorities at the district or State level. It will provide social security to one crore families belonging to the unorganized sector.”

Dr. JP said people could judge the Lok Satta Party’s capacity and competence to deliver on its promises by reviewing what it had accomplished as an NGO. Nowhere else in the post-second world war an NGO had achieved so much in so short a time as the Lok Satta.

Sunday, March 8, 2009 - 18:26

Lok Satta seeks closure of belt shops

The Lok Satta Party today urged the State Chief Election Commissioner to ensure immediate closure of unauthorized liquor shops, also known as belt shops, in all villages and towns.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said that following the election schedule announcement, “the sale of liquor (mostly through these unlicensed, unauthorized ‘belt shops’) is likely to pose a big menace to the conduct of peaceful and free and fair polls.”

Dr. JP said that the “unauthorized liquor shops have become ready tools in the hands of political parties to incite voters by making liquor available in every nook and corner of the State. At the time of elections, you generally order closure of licensed liquor shops for a limited period. But such an order may not be implemented in practice as more than one lakh unauthorized liquor shops exist in our State.”

“Liquor distribution to gullible voters damages the very system of democratic process. Controlling liquor distribution by political parties during elections has become a big challenge to the election authorities,” Dr. JP said in his letter.

The Election Commissioner should, therefore, direct the concerned State authorities to get all unauthorized liquor shops closed with immediate effect.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 - 17:56

Women and Youth Welcome to Contest on Lok Satta Ticket

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today called upon educated women and youth of integrity and competence with leadership qualities, who are thirsting for a change in the present corrupt political culture, to contest the ensuing elections on the Lok Satta Party ticket.

Addressing a number of youth from Medak district who joined the Lok Satta Party under the leadership of Mr. Satish Goud, Dr. JP said the party would like to field women candidates in one-third of the seats in the ensuing elections. As of now, the response from women is not adequate, although hundreds of male candidates are in the race.

Dr. JP said that hitherto people wondered whether the Lok Satta Party and its candidates could compete with traditional parties and their candidates who are getting ready to spend an astronomical Rs.4500 crore in Andhra Pradesh. They seemed to ask whether a basil plant can survive in a cannabis plantation. "Yes, we can", answered Dr. JP.

The party needed Rs.20 crore to Rs.25 crore to conduct a State-wide campaign, even as candidates stick to the ceiling on expenses imposed by law. The party had, therefore, asked party candidates who could afford to donate whatever they could by way of cheque, assuring them that the party headquarters would be supplying them campaign material and equipment. He added, "Honest money is needed to usher in honest politics."

Referring to the promises including universal health care, education and skills and jobs being made by traditional parties on the eve of elections, Dr. JP said they had neither sincerity nor competence to carry out their promises. The Lok Satta, he said, would eradicate poverty in five years and enable every family to live with dignity. Mr. Akurati Murali Krishna, party Vice President, said the youth who joined the party had seen through the empty election promises being made by traditional parties. Among those who joined the party were Mr. Kola Nageswara Rao, movie director, and leaders of Mudiraj and Gowda communities.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 - 17:49

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