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Sharmila travels in APSRTC bus
Sharmila Launches Protest Campaign on APSRTC Bus
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila has taken a symbolic step in her protest against the state government by traveling on an APSRTC bus. On Friday, October 18, she initiated a postcard campaign aimed at reminding Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of his unfulfilled poll promise to provide free bus travel for women. Along with other women leaders from the Congress party, Sharmila travels in APSRTC bus, purchasing tickets as part of the campaign to emphasize the promise made by the TDP-led government.
Postcard Campaign Targets CM Naidu
During the protest, YS Sharmila and her supporters held up postcards addressed to the chief minister. The postcards urged CM Naidu to deliver on his election promise. Sharmila announced that over the next three days, thousands of postcards would be sent to the chief minister from every Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. This initiative aims to put pressure on the state government to act on its commitments, particularly the pledge of free bus travel for women.
Comparisons with Telangana’s Free Travel Scheme
In her address, Sharmila drew a comparison between the actions of the Andhra Pradesh government and those of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. She pointed out that Reddy had implemented a similar scheme of free bus travel for women within a week of taking office. Meanwhile, Sharmila travels in APSRTC bus to highlight that the Andhra Pradesh government has not yet fulfilled this promise, even four months after coming to power. She questioned the delay, saying, “Every woman is asking what happened to your promise of free bus travel for women.”
Financial Implications of the Free Travel Scheme
Sharmila highlighted the potential benefits of implementing the free bus travel scheme in Andhra Pradesh. According to her, out of the 30 lakh daily commuters on APSRTC buses, 20 lakh are women. If the free bus travel for women were to be implemented, the state government would need to allocate between Rs 7 crore to Rs 10 crore per day, translating to about Rs 300 crore per month. While this would be a significant expense, Sharmila travels in APSRTC bus to stress that this investment is necessary to support the women voters who played a crucial role in electing the current government.
Criticism of Unfulfilled Promises
YS Sharmila did not limit her criticism to the issue of bus travel. She reminded CM Naidu of other promises that remain unfulfilled under the ‘Super Six’ initiative. She emphasized that four out of the six promises made by the TDP-led alliance directly target women, including the ‘Thalliki Vandhanam’ scheme, which offers Rs 15,000 to each mother for educating her children. Additional promises included Rs 1,500 per month for women aged 18-59, free cooking gas cylinders, and free bus travel for women.
Sharmila questioned the government’s priorities, asking, “If you don’t implement this scheme, when will you implement other major promises?” Her protest by traveling in an APSRTC bus serves as a reminder of the expectations set during the campaign period and the urgency of fulfilling them.
Absence of ‘Super Six’ in Recent Discussions
YS Sharmila also criticized the Andhra Pradesh government’s recent Cabinet meeting for failing to discuss any of the ‘Super Six’ promises, including the free bus travel for women. According to her, the absence of these topics from the agenda raises doubts about the government’s commitment to its promises. Sharmila travels in APSRTC bus to amplify the voices of those who feel let down by the current administration’s unfulfilled commitments.
Demand for Implementation of Welfare Schemes
Beyond the free bus travel scheme, Sharmila also called out CM Naidu for not implementing other welfare schemes promised during the elections. These include a Rs 3,000 monthly unemployment allowance for jobless youth and an annual financial assistance of Rs 20,000 for every farmer. According to her, the TDP failed to deliver on its promises from both the 2014 elections and the most recent electoral campaign. By focusing on these issues, Sharmila aims to bring attention to the TDP’s failure to meet the needs of various demographic groups, especially women.
YS Sharmila’s Call for Accountability
With her public protest and postcard campaign, YS Sharmila seeks to hold the Andhra Pradesh government accountable for its promises. Her initiative to travel in an APSRTC bus and demand action is intended to mobilize support from women across the state and to remind CM Naidu that his commitments have not gone unnoticed. As the campaign continues, the response from the state government will be closely watched by the public and political observers alike.
Disclaimer: This content is based on public reports and statements made by political leaders. It aims to provide information and insights into political developments and does not intend to favor or defame any individual or party. Readers are advised to refer to official sources for complete details.
