'Dial Your CM' stage-managed: YSR

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 29. Having failed to contact the Chief Minister, Mr.N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the "Dial Your CM" programme beamed by the Hyderabad Doordarshan on Monday evening, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, dubbed the telecast as "stage-managed" and accused Mr.Naidu of using the media channels to "incite the people against the striking RTC employees and the Opposition parties."

In the presence of mediapersons, Dr.Reddy tried in vain to establish contact with Mr.Naidu during the half-an-hour live programme in which the Chief Minister was scheduled to answer questions from the people on the RTC strike.

From his Jubilee Hills residence, he and about half a dozen Congress-I MLAs tried the four telephone numbers set apart for questioning the Chief Minister. Dr.Reddy was armed with a set of questions but the calls did not materialise. "I and my colleagues could not get him on any of the four lines", Dr.Reddy said.

Later talking to presspersons, the Leader of the Opposition launched a broadside against the Chief Minister, accusing him of unleasing "cheap propaganda" against the RTC employees and the Opposition parties in a bid to gain public sympathy and build a case for privatisation of the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).

Dr.Reddy said the "Dial Your CM" telecast was a "big fraud" being played on the people as the forum is being used to "blow his trumpet". None of the genuine questions from the people are allowed. Even if one or two sharp questions are permitted in the programme, the Chief Minister would try to dodge direct replies or hoodwink the questioner with distorted statistical data quoted out of context.

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Section  : Southern States
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