The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Furore in House over CM's remark on Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Furore in House over CM's remark on Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 5. The Assembly witnessed a furore and a wordy duel on Saturday between Congress and Telugu Desam members, sparked by a comment made by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, over his predecessor, N. Chandrababu Naidu's stand on the continuation of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

Dr. Reddy, while replying to the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor's address, expressed surprise at the silence maintained by Mr. Naidu when there was a vociferous demand from the Opposition for the resignation of Mr. Modi, "whom the Supreme Court had compared to Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome was burning.'' But Mr. Naidu did not make any attempt to seek Mr. Modi's resignation, despite his clout with the BJP-led Government. Mr. Naidu wanted to clarify but when he was denied a chance by the Chair, it annoyed TDP members. Congress members shouted to counter them.

A little later, Mr. Naidu alleged that facts were being distorted. His party had demanded Mr. Modi's resignation and even declined the Lok Sabha Speaker's post. The TDP had always upheld secularism. The Congress could not claim such credit as a former Chief Minister M. Channa Reddy had blamed a section of his own party men for the communal riots in Old City of Hyderabad in which hundreds were killed. It was the Congress members turn to protest strongly.

When the former Civil Supplies Minister N. Janardhan Reddy (TDP), tried to say something, he was shouted down as "Biyyam (rice) Minister." They were referring to his alleged shielding of those involved in diversion of Food-for-work rice. Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy clarified that the Commission appointed to inquire into the riots did not hold any political party responsible.

He said he had only referred to Mr. Naidu's stand after the Supreme Court came up with damning order against Mr. Modi and not after the communal riots. Mr. Naidu did not say a word even when the Goa meeting of the BJP decided not to remove Mr. Modi. "Mr. Naidu should change his mindset at least now as the Leader of the Opposition."

Mr. Naidu responded by saying it was not him but the Chief Minister who had to change his mindset. "Otherwise it will be dangerous for him". Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy shot back: "It is because you have not changed you are sitting there and we are sitting here. If people thought otherwise, they would not have allowed us to swap places.''

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