The Hindu : TRS chief joins issue with Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

TRS chief joins issue with Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD NOV. 29. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president, K.Chandrashekhara Rao, on Saturday joined issue with the Chief Minister, N.Chandrababu Naidu, over the latter's statement that development of backward regions was possible only in a united Andhra Pradesh and demanded the publication of a white paper on the development of the Telangana region, including software exports.

Addressing a press conference here, he also challenged the Chief Minister for an open debate on the issue. Releasing comparative figures pertaining to commercial tax collection in Telangana and the rest of the State, he said that since 1997-98 to 2002-03, the lion's share of the revenue collected ranging from 68.56 per cent to 80.20 per cent was from Telangana.

He said the commercial taxes collected from the Andhra region was to the tune of Rs.1742.17 crores, against Rs.7060.84 out of the total of Rs.8803.01 crores.

Accusing the Chief Minister of indulging in aggressive propaganda, he said that under the TDP regime during the last eight years, the ayacut area in Mahbubnagar region had dwindled from 10 lakh acres to 2 lakh acres, while the farmers did not get remunerative prices for any crop and had to face constant harassment in the form of lathi-charge and firing. Several cotton farmers committed suicide and the Rythu Bazars became defunct.

He alleged that not even 20 per cent of the promises made in the manifesto during the last election were fulfilled.

He said that 1 crore jobs were promised but not even 5 lakh jobs were provided. Similarly, the Government had claimed that investment worth thousands of crores would flow following the partnership summit and the Chief Minister's visit to Davos. On the other hand, 80 per cent of small scale industries in Telangana had turned sick and no steps were taken to revive them. He also alleged that the Chief Minister was planning to divert waters of Telangana region in the name of inter-linking of rivers.

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