HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu has contested the claim of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy that the latter had got an assurance from UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for removal of images of skull and cross-bones on beedi packets.

Quoting a telephonic conversation he had with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, Mr. Naidu told reporters here on Sunday that the Minister had no such plan in mind. Therefore, there was no question of Dr. Reddy getting an assurance to the effect from Ms. Gandhi.

Mr. Naidu charged Dr. Reddy with making several such empty promises to people. The TDP president also came down heavily on Ms. Gandhi for remaining silent on the controversy surrounding beedi packets during her visit to the State on Saturday. Though it was a burning problem facing lakhs of women employed in the industry, Ms. Gandhi chose not to speak about it.

Mr. Naidu held the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) equally responsible for the beedi controversy.

The UPA Government enacted the legislation and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao signed the same as Union Labour Minister.

Agitation

The TDP MPs would raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament on Monday.

They would also contact leaders of all parties to seek their support for the agitation.

In the first phase, the TD would hold dharnas before Collectorates in all districts on Monday.

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