August 07, 2005, The New Sunday Express
Vijayawada
With the top leaders of the three major political parties sharing the dals, heated debates and trading of acrimonious charges should be the order of the day. However, it was a refreshing change for those attending the seminar on Common Minimum Programme. It prospects on Economic Reforms, held by the Consumer Guidance Society here today. There were neither acrimonious remarks nor veiled threats but only an intellectual discussion on the topic.
Vijayawada MP L. Rajagopal (Congress), Nalgonda MP Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy (CPI) and former minister Y. Ramakrishnudu (TDP) participated in the debate, which was moderated by former editor of Visalandhra C. Raghavachari.
Defending the economic reforms and the doing away of the licence Raj system, Rajagopal said that state should balance the priorities between it economic development and social obligations.