The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Fevers in agency: Rosaiah disputes Naidu's claims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 29, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Fevers in agency: Rosaiah disputes Naidu's claims

Special Correspondent

TDP dares Congress to prove it wrong

HYDERABAD: Finance and Health Minister K. Rosaiah has said the Government has taken sufficient steps to contain malaria in tribal areas of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts where it broke out in a "virulent form" following rains.

On his return here on Thursday from a visit of the affected areas, the Minister said there were only nine deaths so far in the area and dismissed the higher figure quoted by Telugu Desam president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, as "mere politicisation". The break-up was Visakhapatnam - 7 and Srikakulam and Vizianagaram each one.

At a press conference, the Minister referred "frequent change" of figure by Mr. Naidu relating to deaths and said, this only showed he was politically motivated. Mr Naidu had put the figure first at 1,250, then switched over to 1,160 and finally settled with 936.

Minister's claim

The Minister said there was not a single casualty at Champaguda, the tribal hamlet in Araku Valley where Mr Naidu said there were 14 deaths.

He said, the Government did not receive any letter from National Human Rights Commission to which the Telugu Desam leaders had submitted a memorandum.

The Government would suitably reply if such a letter was received.

Meanwhile the TDP accused the Government of neglecting health services in the agency area of Visakhapatnam district.

At a press conference, TDP leaders - K. Sivaprasada Rao, Satyanarayana Murthy and M.V. Mysoora Reddy - took objection to what they called the "callous and irresponsible comments" made by Mr. Rosaiah during his visit to the area three days after he was given the portfolio.

`NHRC seeks report'

Dr. Sivaprasada Rao challenged Mr. Rosaiah to prove the TDP wrong. "Let the Congress take at random any of the 1,094 names the TDP has listed.

Even if one of them died of reasons other than those cited by us, we will accept that we are wrong," Dr. Sivaprasada Rao said.

Taking cognisance suo motu of the situation prevailing in the agency areas, the NHRC had asked Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda for a status report, he said, adding that it would not be surprising if the United Nations and the World Health Organisation stepped into the picture.

When the TDP was in power, Dr. Rao said Rs. 1,580 crores was earmarked for health, including Rs. 100 crores exclusively for medicines.

"What has the Congress done thus far, except to accuse us of politicising the issue?" he asked.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh