Date:25/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/25/stories/2004112515320500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BJP leader decries YSR's remarks

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 24. The former Union Minister, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, has claimed that the Congress has lost the moral right to rule the State going by the `irresponsible' statements of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, during his tour of Kurnool district on Tuesday.

First, Mr. Rao picked holes in Dr. Reddy's claim that the steps taken by the State Government to help farmers wriggle out of a tight situation would bear fruits only after two years.

At a news conference here on Wednesday, he asked whether it meant that suicides would continue for two years. Referring to Dr. Reddy's announcement that Srisailam water would be exclusively used for Rayalaseema and the ayacut of Krishna delta would be stabilised with Godavari water from Polavaram and Dummagudem, he said this meant a raw deal to Telangana.

The BJP leader said the Congress Government was heading to a situation more disastrous than in 1989-94 when three Chief Ministers were appointed.