HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu has condemned the `callous attitude' of the State Government during 15 days of torrential rain that paralysed life in three districts and said `negative governance' was illustrated during this period.

Speaking to reporters after returning from a tour of the affected places on Wednesday, Mr. Naidu said by negative governance he meant disinclination of the official machinery to come to the rescue of the victims. This could be traced to the indifference of the leadership. Mr. Naidu alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues failed to visit places that were seriously affected. Instead, Dr. Reddy rushed to Delhi twice to seek Central assistance that did not materialise.

The officials were yet to take up enumeration of damages. They could not visit the affected places as they were marooned because of choking of drains and outlets. The Government misused funds released for repair of drains he alleged and added the officials wanted to waive payment of compensation to victims. The TDP president said the party in collaboration with NTR Memorial Trust and donors would distribute five kg rice each to one lakh persons in Krishna, 50,000 in Guntur and 25,000 in Prakasam. About 250 quintals of rice was despatched to Krishna district from here while the local party unit would raise an equal quantity.

Rosaiah's reply

Health Minister K. Rosaiah has rebutted Mr. Naidu's criticism of relief extended to the families in flood-hit areas.

At a press conference, he said a cyclone during Mr. Naidu's period that had claimed as many 872 lives in Konaseema alone indicated the extent of the damage and yet the Telugu Desam Government did little. The toll now, in contrast, was restricted to 37 following prompt precautionary steps.

The Minister said sighting Mr. Naidu visiting flood-affected areas, the affected families thought he was bringing lorry loads of rice but he had promised only 5 kg. each in the end. "The promise remains a promise."

Mr. Rosaiah recalled that Mr. Naidu had often considered himself an international personality and said, "If it was so, it is not proper for the international personality to speak on every small thing."

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