Andhra Pradesh

TDP sees bid to scuttle Meekosam

VIZIANAGARAM: The TDP district committee has threatened to retaliate if the Congress tries to scuttle the yatra of its president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Condemning attacks on TDP activists in Chittoor, Nellore and Prakasam districts, party district president Yadla Ramana Murty recalled the security measures Mr. Naidu, who was then Chief Minister, had taken for the padayatra of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, then an Opposition leader, before the elections in 2004.

But, the Chief Minister, unable to digest the good response from people to the Meekosam programme, had constituted a committee with Finance Minister K. Rosaiah as its chief to twist facts and send wrong message to people, he alleged.

With regard to fixation of rate for cement, he said that the Cabinet sub-committee constituted to discuss with industrialists was an eyewash as they (industrialists) had heavily financed the Congress for holding its plenary in Hyderabad two years ago. Moreover, the committee had been preparing ground for the proposed cement factory of the Chief Minister’s son rather than finding a way to check price rise, he charged.

On reported skipping of discussion on Telugu language status during question hour in Parliament by Lok Sabha member Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi, he said her statement that she left the House to attend a phone call did not hold water, as mobile phones were not allowed inside the Parliament building. Further, Ms. Ambica Soni, Minister for Cultural Affairs, was not her personal assistant to inform her about the call, Mr. Ramana Murty said. As elections were due in Karnataka, any announcement on the language issue would attract a similar discussion from Karnataka MPs and would affect the Congress’ prospects in that State, he felt. Party polit bureau member P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju was present.

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