The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A spontaneous gesture: Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A spontaneous gesture: Naidu

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 29. The Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Wednesday demanded that the havoc wreaked by tsunami be treated as a national calamity, repeated the charge that the relief was belated and tardy and justified the victory sign he made to the affected people.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu also demanded that the ex gratia to the next of the kin be raised to Rs. 3 lakhs, quantum of rice to affected people increased to 50 kg each and provide boats and nets to fishermen at 75 per cent subsidy.

Expressing surprise at the Congress party's reaction to his victory sign and tour of the affected areas, the TDP leader said he would not like to politicise every small thing. He was often prompted to make the sign by people themselves and he could not disappoint them. "That is the way I relate to them and it comes to me spontaneously. I cannot be expected to wave the hand, as it is a Congress symbol." Even at the former Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao's funeral, people greeted him with a similar sign and he had responded.

Ministers targeted

He said he had gone to the affected areas, to console and share the feelings of people there and not to politicise the relief, as perceived by the Congress leaders.

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