The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naidu alleges raw deal to TDLP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu alleges raw deal to TDLP

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 17. The Telugu Desam president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has decried the "treatment" being meted out to the main opposition TDP by the ruling dispensation, particularly in the allotment of the building, currently housing the Congress Legislature Party office in the Assembly precincts, to the TDLP, and also quarters to former Ministers.

During an informal interaction with reporters at the TDP office here on Thursday, he said that the TDP's request for allotting the building in which the CLP was located had been rejected. In contrast to the manner in which the Opposition was treated now, he said during the nine-year rule of the TDP, the Congress was given all facilities even when that party did not have a full-fledged opposition status with only 26 seats.

He claimed that former Speaker, Pratibha Bharathi, had provided whatever facilities were needed.

He said there was a need for a separate chamber for himself as numerous visitors would be meeting him in his capacity as a former Chief Minister. Besides, there were three deputy floor leaders of the TDLP. He would not mind sitting under a tree to carry on with his work or from his party office. The attitude of the ruling dispensation was akin to "factionalism,'' he added.

Asked for his reaction on the Government's announcement of three-month ceasefire in a bid to hold talks with naxalites, he said: " Let them do it. We want a permanent solution to the problem."

Mr. Naidu lashed out at the Congress Government for effecting a hike in the prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel within a month of coming to power. Before the polls, Congress leaders provoked women and garnered votes. He said people were agitated over the hike and the TDP had already organised protest rallies in various places in the State.

On the move to review the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with four companies, he said, "Let them review." They would await the outcome.

Asked about the TRS' decision to join the State Cabinet, he pointed out that the Congress and TRS fought the elections together and were now sharing power. On the possibility of forming a separate Telangana State, he said "time will tell."

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