The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Diversionary tactics, says Congress

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

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Diversionary tactics, says Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 7. The Congress Legislature Party has charged the TDP with stalling the Assembly proceedings only to prevent any discussion on corruption.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, the Minister for Legislative Affairs, K. Rosaiah, said the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, was trying to divert people's attention from the Supreme Court's ruling in liquor case.

If he had a genuine desire to discuss the allegations of corruption in the tenders process, he should use the opportunity by allowing a short discussion in the House. Moreover, the issue of tenders was interlinked to the projects and there would be no tenders if there were no projects, he said.

He added that the High Court judgment upholding the allocation of the irrigation contracts to the nine companies and the Supreme Court verdict ordering reopening of the corruption case against Mr. Naidu had driven to the TDP to the wall.

All its plans to take on the Government in the Assembly had gone awry with the two landmark judgments, he said. Having lost an opportunity to unleash a motivated campaign against the Congress Government, Mr. Naidu was speaking irrationally, he said.

Mr. Rosaiah said there could be no justification for his conduct as the Government wanted to initiate the debate on its own. The Government's hands were clean and the Opposition could avail the opportunity during the debate over the irrigation projects. There was no need for separate debates as demanded by Mr. Naidu, he argued.

Smooth conduct of the House should be the priority of the members to discuss important issues like projects and farmers' suicide for the benefit of the State.

The Opposition had invited the Government for an open debate and the latter agreed to do so in the Assembly a week ago itself. "Why should they shirk now?" he asked.

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