HYDERABAD: State BJP has refuted the charge made by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that it wanted the country to be divided into 100 States and asked the latter to understand its policy of favouring smaller States for administrative convenience, in the right perspective.

Referring to the Mahanadu's criticism of its policy on smaller States, party vice-president S.V.Seshagiri Rao accused the TDP of indulging in propaganda similar to that of the Marxists, that BJP wanted to weaken the States.

Mr. Rao said the Fazal Ali Commission appointed by Pandit Nehru had suggested that both Telangana and Andhra be kept separate for at least 10 years. Then it could be merged if only the people of the regions subsequently wanted it. He advised the TDP to rethink its stand on Telangana and understand the growing demand for a separate State in its historical perspective.

Blaming the TDP's rule for the birth of Telangana Rashtra Samiti, he wanted to know if the party would make a person from Telangana the Chief Minister of the State if they returned to power. Wondering whether TDP was a regional party or a family party, Mr. Rao said the power was vested in the hands of one family.

`Double standards'

Referring to several District Congress Committee presidents opposing Telangana, he accused the Congress of adopting `double standards' on the issue. Mr. Rao was at pains to clarify when asked if BJP had not adopted similar standards while taking TDP support and now dubbing it a family party.

BJP secretary NVSS Prabhakar criticised the reported move to acquire temple lands in East and West Godavari districts for Indiramma programme.

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