Andhra Pradesh

War of words over renaming of schemes

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 17. After yesterday's uproar over live telecast, it was ruckus over nomenclature of various programmes in the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying on Velugu project, the Rural Development Minister, D. Srinivas, told the House that Velugu and DWCRA programmes were merged and named `Indira Kranti.' Immediately, the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, was on his feet, objecting to the Government's attempt to rechristen every scheme after Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Demanding that present names be retained, Mr. Naidu thundered: "Who gave you power to change names?" Angrily retorting, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that it was neither his father nor Mr. Naidu's father who had given that power to the Congress but people of the State.

He reminded Mr. Naidu of the Congress poll promise to usher in `Indiramma rajyam,' and it was in fulfilment of the promise that the Government was launching schemes and naming them after Indira and Rajiv.

YSR at his vitriolic best

Dr. Reddy faulted Mr. Naidu for his objections, recalling how the latter had won his Assembly seat in 1978 by cashing on Indiramma picture and how he had switched loyalties to N.T. Rama Rao and how he had `backstabbed' NTR.

Mr. Naidu complained to the Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, against Dr. Reddy for dragging fathers into the controversy.

N. Narsimha Reddy and Ch. Venkata Reddy of the CPI(M) and CPI respectively said the previous Telugu Desam Government had also named schemes prefixing them with Telugu such as `Telugu Magani Samaradhana' and `Telugu Mahila Bahirboomi.'

G. Kishen Reddy of the BJP sailed with the TDP, saying that even the Internet village programme was not spared of Rajiv's name.

Naidu demands retaining of names.

YSR's pot-shots at TDP chief.

Kishen sails with Telugu Desam.

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