The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Cuddapah News : Dattatreya sees hand of `Cuddapah lobby'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Cuddapah

Dattatreya sees hand of `Cuddapah lobby'

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, MARCH 22. The former Union Minister and BJP leader, B. Dattatreya, on Tuesday alleged that the `Cuddapah lobby' was behind the hastily issued GO 55 on admissions into minority B.Ed colleges on Sunday night and the subsequent GO 57 modifying it.

Quoting the EDCET convenor's report at a press conference, he wondered why the Government had earmarked a quota of 12,000 seats for Christians as against 3,000 eligible B.Ed candidates of the community and a quota of 8,500 seats for Muslims, though only 5,500 of them qualified. Of 309 B.Ed colleges in the State, 109 were minority ones, he added. The GOs were violative of the Supreme Court ruling, he alleged.

Out of proportion

Mr. Dattatreya questioned the need for 70 Christian minority B.Ed colleges for Christians constituting 1.85 per cent of the State population and 39 Muslim minority B.Ed colleges for 12 per cent Muslims. The Education Minister, N. Rajyalakshmi, who claimed priority for meritorious and SC/ST students, should quit on moral grounds, if she was perturbed by the GO, he said.

The BJP leader demanded an explanation on the controversy from the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who charged the previous Government with `selling Goddess Saraswathi in the market,' while in the Opposition.

Drinking water

He demanded all-party meetings at the State and district-levels to discuss ways to mitigate the severe drought and acute drinking water scarcity in the State. He sought allotment of Rs. 25 crores per mandal to tide over the drinking water scarcity and transport water by tankers to needy villages. An outlay of Rs. 2 crores to tackle water shortage was a pittance, he said.

Drought works were yet to commence in any district though 860 mandals were declared drought-hit, the BJP leader alleged. While 87 of the 107 municipalities in the State reeled under severe water scarcity, water transportation by 675 tankers was ridiculous, he claimed and demanded waiver of all dues of farmers and adjustment of crop insurance amounts to outstanding loans.

Mr. Dattatreya asked the Chief Minister how he could divert 10 tmc of water to Penna Ahobilam balancing reservoir. Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy should explain if he sought water diversion from Srisailam reservoir or Tungabhadra dam, he demanded.

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