Date:25/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022513330400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Corruption rampant: Naidu

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday alleged that corruption was rampant at all levels of the administration in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in irrigation projects, and the Government had sold thousands of acres of agricultural land to private parties with ulterior motives.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Naidu, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, alleged that Congress Ministers and MLAs had encroached upon forest, agricultural and endowment lands. The Government had changed the alignment of a ring road in Hyderabad city several just to acquire private land, he alleged.

Searches condemned

Mr. Naidu condemned the police searches on the offices of Margadarsi Financiers in Hyderabad and said such actions showed that the Government was bent on curbing the voice of political opponents and the media for what he termed exposing its corrupt dealings.

The Congress Government wanted to finish the free media in the State. "This did not happen during the Emergency days. It is worse than those dark days. Cases have been booked against our MLA for exposing corrupt deals," he said.

Asked what the Telugu Desam Party would do in the future, Mr. Naidu said it would launch an intensive campaign against the Congress Government led by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and mobilise public opinion against the corrupt administration.

Call to media

He wanted the media to take on the Government because other newspapers would be targeted in future.

Margadarsi Financiers, owned by Ramoji Rao, was financially viable, and the Government was interfering in the firm's affairs on the pretext of protecting depositors, he said.

The Reserve Bank of India had not imposed any curbs on the transactions of the financial institution. "So where is the need for CID searches and an inquiry by the State Government," he asked. Instead of the Government conducting the inquiry, an independent committee should be formed to look into the transactions of the firm, Mr. Naidu said.