Date:19/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/19/stories/2005051918750500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

CLP to Naidu: say sorry to ryots' kin

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has asked the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to tender an apology to the families of the farmers and weavers who committed suicide during his nine-year rule before calling on the bereaved families in Karimnagar district on May 19.

In a three-page statement here on Wednesday, the Government Chief Whip, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, CLP secretaries, Konda Surekha, S. Gangaram and members, M. Hanumantha Rao, Jonna Ramaiah and Puli Veeranna, blamed the `anti-farmer and weaver policies' of Mr. Naidu for the spate of suicides.

They alleged that Mr. Naidu, who neglected the farm sector and interests of the weavers, was now shedding tears for them after losing power. Farmers and weavers were still committing suicide as a fallout of the wrong policies of the TDP Government. The Jayati Ghosh Commission and the Christian Aid reports had found fault with the TDP regime, he said.

The CLP reminded Mr. Naidu that his ambitious Vision - 2020 document failed to mention about the welfare of weavers. Mr. Naidu spent more time in interacting with foreign dignitaries than on consoling families of weavers who committed suicide in Sircilla, Mangalagiri, Chirala and Bhoodan Pochampalli.

They said the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was giving top priority to agriculture and handloom sectors. The budget allocation for handloom and textiles sector had been increased by 90 per cent and a

high-powered committee constituted to study the problems faced by the weavers.

Special Correspondent writes: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has asked the TDP president, N.Chandrababu Naidu, to own up responsibility for the suicide of farmers in the State "at least now" in the light of the Christian Aid report published in newspapers. The party must also be made to pay up for its "crimes against the poor," the CLP said.