Andhra Pradesh - Eluru   

We are committed to secular values, says Chandrababu

Staff Reporter

Addresses impressive gatherings as part of road shows at various places in West Godavari district

ELURU: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday sought to put up a secular face during his road show in West Godavari district.

``Hindus and Muslims are two eyes of our party,'' Mr Naidu said while addressing impressive gatherings at Nidadavole, Kovvuru and Tadepalligudem in the district. He reiterated his party's commitment to communal tolerance and secular values.

The TDP chief seemed to struggling hard to counter Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's move to lure Muslims by introducing five per cent reservation for them in educational institutions and jobs. "We wanted the Congress to make a similar move and provide political reservation too for Muslims,'' he said.

Protests

Mr. Naidu was greeted by a showdown by outfits of Mala Mahanadu and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi in Kovvuru on categorisation of Scheduled Castes. The protesters staged a black flag demonstration as a token of protest for effecting categorisation in favour of Madigas while the rival group held placards and banners in praise of the move.

He touched fever-hit villages in Devarapalli mandal on his way to Tadepalligudem from Kovvuru.

On fevers

He blamed the Congress for its failure to provide even safe drinking water to people leading to the outbreak of viral fevers resulting in over 15 deaths in the area.

Meanwhile, his visit in the district 15 months after the drubbing his party had received in the Assembly elections gave the much needed morale booster to cadre.

Former Ministers - Kotagiri Vidhadhara Rao and Dandu Sivarama Raju - were conspicuous by their absence.

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