The Hindu : Front Page : Sripadasagar: YSR offers to place files

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Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006

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Front Page

Sripadasagar: YSR offers to place files

Special Correspondent

Chandrababu Naidu's `deliberate strategy' boomerangs; files to be kept with Minister

WELL DONE: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy congratulates Minister for Major Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah for his reply to the marathon debate on the Sripadasagar project in the Assembly on Tuesday. — Photo: Sivakumar P.V .

HYDERABAD: Capping a 16-day-long debate, often marred by pandemonium, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday conceded in part a persistent Opposition demand in the Assembly to place the contentious files relating to the Sripadasagar irrigation project tenders with the Irrigation Minister.

The main Opposition party, the TDP, ended on the defensive following an admission by its leader N. Chandrababu Naidu that his party had furnished wrong figures in a related question as part of a "deliberate strategy" to extract correct information from the Government. This confession took some of the sting away from the party's criticism since the debate over the past fortnight had centred round the issue of the genuineness of documents.

On the crucial day, Mr. Naidu's admission not only caused discomfiture to his partymen but his justification evoked laughter from the treasury benches, who taunted him saying if his figures were fake so were the documents sent to the Speaker in a sealed cover.

Amidst thumping of desks by Congress members, the Chief Minister repeated Mr. Naidu's remarks. Legislative Affairs Minister K. Rosaiah was quick to point out that Mr. Naidu had misled the House and the people for 16 days and spoke of moving a privilege motion. Chief Whip Kiran Kumar Reddy wanted the Speaker to initiate contempt proceedings against him.

The Chief Minister, who intervened towards the end, rejected the Opposition demand to place the files before Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy saying the Government would not like to embarrass him. All files barring those with the Lok Ayukta would be made available at the Minister's chambers but it would be for the "first and last time".

In a spirited two-hour long reply, he rubbished the Opposition charge of corruption. He said these charges were intended to put spokes in the ambitious "Jalayagnam" programme, demoralise the officials concerned and obstruct the works. "But we will accomplish the task of completing all pending projects in a time-bound manner".

Longest debate

His announcement climaxed one of the longest debates that saw the Congress' allies joining the main Opposition in alleging that the overall estimate of the project was changed overnight from Rs. 1344 crores to Rs. 1725 crores, without any change in ayacut and other parameters.

There were loud protests from the TDP members when he accused Mr. Naidu of encouraging fake currency makers, stamp scamsters, fake lottery winners and luring the very leader who had described him as "Big Boss".

Later, admitting that the TDP had gone on the defensive, Mr. Naidu told reporters that this was due to the Speaker's attitude. His party would raise the issue again tomorrow.

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