Date:13/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/13/stories/2003121304500400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Congress questions CM's right to criticise Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Dec. 12. Congress leaders have asked the Telugu Desam president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to spell out when he would put to an end to the `videshi rule of the World Bank' in Andhra Pradesh instead of talking about the foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi.

Taking exception to the remarks of the Chief Minister at Kurnool on Thursday, the chief spokesperson of the party, K. Rosaiah, and the former CLP leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here on Friday said Mr. Naidu owed an explanation to people for implementing the "World Bank agenda'' all these years.

The "foreign agenda" of Mr. Naidu had "wrecked'' the rural economy and "brought misery'' to people. Agriculture, irrigation, health and medicare, education, transport and power sectors were reeling under the impact of the World Bank "conditionalities.'' Healthy PSUs and corporations were being shut down at the "instance'' of WB officials.

Employment opportunities had been "wiped out'' due to the "restrictions'' imposed by foreign agencies. Listing the programmes of the Government they said, "The Israeli module for agriculture, the Singapore model for roads, the Japan model for trains and the Korean model for Janmabhoomi concept" were just a few examples of Mr. Naidu's preferences.