Date:25/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/25/stories/2004112507470400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR rejects TDP demand for all-party meet on tenders

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 24. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Wednesday turned down the Telugu Desam demand for an all-party meet on irrigation tenders terming `illogical' the demand for extending the deadline for submission of fresh tenders.

Talking to reporters here, he said the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had never shown any inclination for developing the State's irrigation potential and his concept of governance was just a pro-rich experiment but not a pro-poor process.

An all-party meet was unnecessary as the Court had examined the tenders' issue threadbare and there was nothing left for political parties to discuss. There could be no interaction with the main Opposition as it had already taken a stand of opposing irrigation projects.

Derides TDP offer

He ridiculed the TDP's offer of `shramdaan' for the projects as Mr.Naidu was leaving no stone unturned to stall the Congress party's `Maha Jalayagnam'.

As for the TDP's commitment to development, he said corruption in executing works under Neeru- Meeru, Janmabhoomi and Food-for-Work programme was an eye-opener to all. It had failed to create any tangible assets even after securing external loans to the tune of Rs.57, 000 crores. On the other hand, a number of Government's assets had gone up in smoke.