The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP firm on separate debate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP firm on separate debate

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 7. The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Tuesday said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would continue to press for separate discussions on the tendering process and irrigation projects in the Assembly.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Naidu charged the ruling party with clubbing the two together to dilute the issue of alleged corruption and irregularities in the calling of tenders for the projects. "The Government just wants to escape but we are not going to spare it," he said.

He wanted the Government to challenge the latest High Court order, in the Supreme Court, to save public money as it favoured the contractors.

The Government's silence and later celebrations, showed that it was on the side of the contractors, he alleged. Asked if the TDP would go in for an appeal, he replied in the negative.

Mr. Naidu and T. Devender Goud, Deputy Leader, said they had suggested at the Business Advisory Committee meeting that the discussion on tenders be taken up first and the debate on projects later but the Government did not accept it.

Whopping loss

He said in Category I projects of Rs. 5,000 crores, the bids were finalised for 26 per cent in excess compared to those in Category II, which meant a loss of Rs. 1,300 crores.

Going by the Government's plan to take up projects costing Rs. 46,000 crores, the excess would work out to a whopping Rs. 10,000 crores.

"How can we keep quiet?" he asked.

Telecast of proceedings

Mr. Naidu also charged that live TV feeds from the Government media were focussing cameras on the Speaker and the Chief Minister but not the Opposition.

They demanded that private channels be allowed to telecast the proceedings live.

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