The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : UPA Government drifting aimlessly, says Yerran Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

UPA Government drifting aimlessly, says Yerran Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI, JAN. 4. Flaying what he called the `utter lack of coordination' among the partners of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP) leader, K. Yerran Naidu, exclaimed, "Is Manmohan Singh the `real' Prime Minister?"

In an oblique reference to the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Naidu said his party strongly perceived the presence of a `power centre' behind the Prime Minister.

Also, there were smaller groups pulling him in different directions, making the Government drift aimlessly. The Centre was also blamed for running the show without an agenda for development.

Ignoring manifesto

At a media conference on Tuesday, the TDPP leader charged the UPA Government with not caring for the manifesto that brought it power. The Employment Guarantee Act, which was promised to be implemented within 100 days of coming to power, did not take off even after seven months. "And the Government is bragging over just passing the bill, knowing fully well that the destination is still far away," he added.

Recalling Sonia Gandhi's visit to Anantapur during the TDP rule to distribute relief from the party fund to 88 farmers, Mr. Naidu questioned why the party, ruling both at the Centre and in the State, did not `officially' extend relief to them now. He criticised the Congress of playing politics with farmers' lives.

Policy on Maoists

The TDPP leader wanted the Centre to have a national policy on Maoist terrorism. Maintaining that the TDP need not have to think beyond safeguarding the people of the State, it being a regional party, he advised the BJP and Congress to spell out their stand on the issue.

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