Date:03/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/03/stories/2005050306410400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP's protest motivated, say Ministers

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The State Government has said the demonstration organised by the Telugu Desam during the open discussion on tenders for Pushkaram lift-irrigation project at Rajahmundry on Sunday was "premeditated'' and an attempt to disrupt law and order.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, and the Roads and Buildings Minister, J. Ramamohana Rao, who hails from the district, recalled a veiled threat issued a few days ago by the TDP.

The party sought to know whether the Government would take responsibility for maintenance of law and order if the venue of the discussion on tenders was shifted from here to the project sites.

`Mobilisation' charge

As anticipated in the backdrop of the threat, the TDP mobilised truckloads of people to stage the demonstration in front of the R & B guesthouse where the discussion was scheduled. And on top of it, the TDP also organised a parallel "awareness meeting'' for farmers in the Zilla Parishad guesthouse opposite the venue.

The crowd was tutored and provoked into raiding the venue demanding Rs. 7 lakhs an acre as compensation for project victims.

The Ministers said it was clear by this that the TDP was unable to play the role of an opposition party.