The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Clear the air on tenders: TDP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Clear the air on tenders: TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 11. The Telugu Desam Party has reiterated its demand that all files pertaining to the irrigation tenders be placed before the Speaker to prove that the whole affair is "transparent."

The TD has demanded a judicial probe to prove that the dealings with the nine contractors were "fair." It has charged the Government with diluting the debate on irrigation tenders by levelling charges against TDP leaders.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the TD official spokespersons, M. V. Mysoora Reddy, K. Vidyadhara Rao, Ummareddi Venkateswarlu and S. Venugopala Chary, objected to the manner in which the Congress members were allowed to level allegations.

"How can the Congress member, D. L. Ravindra Reddy, be allowed to speak for three hours?" they asked. He did not reply to the charges of the Leader of the Opposition or sought information from the Minister, they observed. "The debate so far has been confined to mudslinging and personal charges," the leaders noted.

Mr. Mysoora Reddy alleged nexus between the Government and the contractors, who had filed bids for the second category works also.

The TDP leaders maintained that privilege move should be initiated against the Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy and not the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

They maintained that Mr. Naidu had not threatened the Speaker as was being made out by the Congress members. Instead, the Minister had insulted the Speaker by his rash remarks. They said there was no scope for a privilege move against Mr. Naidu, as the purported remarks of attributing motives to the Speaker during the Business Advisory Committee meeting was an in-camera affair.

They felt that the Speaker should have been careful while allowing members to make their point. When questioned whether the TDP was finding fault with the Speaker, the leaders clarified that they were only making their observation.

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