Andhra speaker tells NRIs of economic upturn back home

Andhra Speaker KR Suresh Reddy during his visit to Boston and New York this week informed the Telugu community about the economic progress in India.

Andhra Pradesh Speaker KR Suresh Reddy during his visit to Boston and New York this week informed the Telugu community about the economic progress in India and the state and also allayed their fears arising from the recent bomb blasts there.

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In Boston, Reddy was the chief guest at a function September 1, organised by the Telugu community to celebrate 60 years of India's independence.

"I talked there about the vibrancy of the Indian economy and how parliamentary democracy is the most powerful way for economic development," Reddy told IANS.

In New York, he spoke at the reception held on Thursday in his honour by the Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC), Andhra Pradesh (AP) chapter. Surinder S Malhotra, president of INOC and Gaddam Reddy, head of the AP chapter, introduced the speaker.

The speaker lauded NRIs for the upturn in the Indian economy. "Each one of you has contributed through your remittances and investments," he said.

He pointed out that the growth in India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, has been more inclusive now, bridging the rural-urban, poor-rich and the digital divides.

The August 25 terror strikes in Hyderabad, he told the audience, "has shaken, not shattered people. People stood firmly and reaffirmed that no act of violence can divide us."

Reddy, 48, said he often takes back messages from his interactions with the NRI community. "Last year at a conference of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) on the West Coast, the issue of global warming was raised. On my return, I took it up and now we have a committee on environment protection in the assembly."