Union Cabinet condoles YSR's death, says country has lost a statesman India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Union Cabinet on Thursday passed a resolution condoling the death of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and announced that he would be given a state funeral on Friday. In its resolution the Cabinet said: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was a tall leader of contemporary India who, through his farsightedness and capable administration, brought tremendous development to the State of Andhra Pradesh. It further said that Dr. Reddy was at the peak of his political career and popularity when the hand of fate intervened. "In his death, the country has lost an eminent political leader, a farsighted statesman, an astute administrator, a compassionate human being and, above all, a friend of the poor and the downtrodden," the Cabinet resolution said. Recalling the popular schemes of the Reddy Government the Union Cabinet resolution said " He implemented many revolutionary programmes such as Jalayagnam and Indiramma Illu which gave a new thrust to the women's Self-Help-Group movement and made Andhra Pradesh the leading state in enrolment and empowerment of women." "He recognised the need to expand irrigation facilities and generate more power as to make the irrigation and power as two driving forces of his administration and he delivered in full measure on his promises," it further added. "Reddy, a qualified medical doctor, was a natural reformer and moderniser, nevertheless, he always kept the interests of the poor at the centre of his policies and his government. He was able to successfully blend the necessity of reforms and the imperatives of social justice," it said. Reddy's policies and programmes endeared him to the people of Andhra Pradesh. He had admirers beyond the boundaries of his State and his administrative acumen and charisma were widely acknowledged, the cabinet resolution concluded.