Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121305550400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Make stand clear, CPI tells congress

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, DEC. 12. The CPI assistant secretary, K. Narayana, and the State executive member, Puvvada Nageswara Rao, have said the turnout at the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) meeting in Hyderabad reflected people's discontent at the backwardness and failure of the nine-year TDP rule.

At a press conference at Gajuwaka on Sunday, they reminded that the CPI had been demanding a special package of Rs. 5,000 crores to solve the area's backwardness. Describing the Congress' stand on Telangana at national and state level as ambiguous, they said it should be made clear. They also wanted the Government to give priority to backward areas. They opposed the Congress continuing the pre-tender qualification process introduced by the Chandrababu Naidu Government. The proposal to lease the offshore platform of the Hindusthan Shipyard Limited (HSL) to L&T in the name of viability was also opposed.

The CPI also demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged corruption of IAS and IPS officers in the State.