Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

CPI(M) accuses Govt. of double standard

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD May 20. N. Narsimhaiah, leader of the CPI(M) group in the Assembly, on Tuesday charged the Government with showing double standard in judging implementation of the Food-for-work (FFW) programme in drought-hit areas.

Addressing a press conference, he said, starting from the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, down to the Panchyat Raj Minister, N. Janardhan Reddy, everyone had been threatening the poor sarpanch that he would be suspended if there were any irregularities in FFW works. But the same yardstick was not being adopted when there was large-scale diversion of rice in FFW works and failure of the State Government in distributing even quarter of the 15 lakh tonnes of rice given free of cost by the Centre.

Should not the Centre ask the State to file a detailed report on the distribution of rice? "I would not demand any action by the Centre but it goes on to show the Government's double standards,'' he said. Mr. Narsimhaiah expressed surprise at Mr. Naidu's view that most of his time was lost in rectifying mistakes committed by the Congress, even while taking credit for being the longest serving Chief Minister.

It meant, over seven long years and a huge World Bank loan of Rs. 59,000 crores, three times more than the loan taken by the previous Congress Government, was not enough to take care of these mistakes. It was equally surprising that the huge loan was not used for completing the pending projects in the drought- hit Mahabubnagar district. Nor did Mr. Naidu use his influence to get clearance for other projects like Kalvakurthy and Nettampadu.

Describing the supply of fodder as nominal and inadequate at present, he demanded payment of transportation charges to the farmers. The payment was a better option, as they would get benefit directly. He said it was to highlight these issues, that the Left parties and others have called bandh tomorrow.

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