The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : BJP not opposed to Telangana: Dattatreya

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BJP not opposed to Telangana: Dattatreya

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, JUNE 12. Reiterating that the Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to the formation of Telangana State, the former Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Bandaru Dattatreya has asked the Congress to disclose its stand on the Telangana issue.

Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, Mr. Dattatreya welcomed the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam's mention of `formation of Telangana State at an appropriate time' in his speech. "The BJP will also ensure Telangana State at an appropriate time," he noted.

He said the statements by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the TRS president, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, were contradictory. While the former was stating that the Congress was committed to second SRC on Telangana, the TRS president favoured formation of Telangana by introducing a bill in Parliament, he said and asked the Congress to make it clear on Telangana.

Attributing the party's defeat in the recent elections to the prevailing `anti-incumbency' factor and unity among opposition parties, he said there was also a Telangana sentiment. Besides, free power promise, farmers' plight and TDP rebels marred the party's chances, he said. With regard to the spate of suicides by farmers, he said farmers were resorting to the extreme step due to denial of minimum support price, supply of spurious seed and pesticides. He expressed concern over non-distribution of seed on subsidy and shortage of seed even after the onset of monsoon.

He asked the Government to procure seed from the neighbouring states and distribute the same to farmers on subsidy. He urged the Government to check the supply of spurious seed and pesticides by taking serious action against the unauthorised seed companies. He also favoured district-wise seed production centres to avoid crisis and also to ensure quality seed to farmers. He demanded a special package for weavers on par with farmers. He suggested to the Government to allocate Rs. 200 crores in the budget for the welfare of weavers.

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