Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Naidu cool to YSR's debate offer

By Our Staff Reporter

KOVVUR (WG DT.) MAY 31. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday subtly rejected the Congress Legislature Party leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's offer for an open debate on the feasibility of distributing free power for agriculture.

He avoided a direct reply when his attention was drawn to Dr. Reddy's preparedness for a public debate, involving the top brass of both the TDP and the Congress, at a press conference during his brief visit here in connection with the ongoing arrangements for the Godavari Pushkarams.

``Whom shall I discuss with here (in the State)?'' he shot back while sticking to his earlier call given from the party's Mahanadu platform in Tirupati for a debate with all Congress-ruled States on the pace of development which took place in Andhra Pradesh during his regime as the Chief Minister and in those States under Congress rule. "Let various welfare measures initiated in the Congress-ruled States and Andhra Pradesh meant for improvement of standard of living of people below the poverty line be included in the agenda for the debate, besides the issue of power,'' Mr. Naidu challenged.

Ridiculing the CLP leader's claim on free power for agriculture, he asked as to why the ruling Congress failed to offer free power to farmers in Punjab. Appealing to people to counter the `double standard' of the Congress, the Chief Minister asserted that his regime had ensured quality in effecting reforms in different sectors, including power.

The Chief Minister said he had requested the Centre to sanction Rs. 50 crores in the form of grant and another Rs. 50 crores in the form of loan to help the State in making arrangements for the Pushkarams.

Recalling the Centre's gesture of releasing Rs. 50 lakhs for a similar festival in Nasik, Mr Naidu said it could be treated as a precedent.The Chief Minister said it was estimated to cost about Rs. 170 crores for undertaking festival arrangements and providing basic amenities at seven holy places situated along the river banks in the State.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Krishna playing water politics: A.P.
• 4 TDP men done to death
• Bankers told to extend aid to 10,000 SHGs
• TDP activist's house blasted
• LAWCET: Telangana candidates strike it big
• YSR seeks special Assembly session on CM's sops
• Krishna non-committal on return to politics
• Villagers force naxals to beat retreat
• Naidu cool to YSR's debate offer

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu