Date:31/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/31/stories/2005013109180400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

`Congress playing politics'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN.30. The Telugu Desam has accused the ruling Congress of trying to politicise the incidents in which APSRTC buses were damaged in the aftermath of Paritala Ravi's killing and making a "mountain out of a molehill."

Answering questions at a press conference, the senior TDP leaders -- R. Chandrasekhara Reddy and E. Peddi Reddy -- said the party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, had appealed for restraint but the incidents occurred due to the emotional response. The bandh call was also given as a last resort, they added.

Farmers let down

The TDP leaders accused the Government of completely failing to protect the interests of farmers and demanded that steps be taken to ensure that they received remunerative prices for cotton and other produce.

While they had no objection to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, going on a foreign trip, there was a time and context for everything. Referring to the accompaniment of families on the foreign trip, they said they should also think about the families of the farmers.