The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘TDP protest against Babli irrelevant'

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Friday, Jul 23, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘TDP protest against Babli irrelevant'

Staff Reporter

D. Purandeswari

SRIKAKULAM (Krishna district): Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari on Thursday questioned the sincerity of the Telugu Desam Party in launching an agitation over the Babli project issue.

She sought to know why the then TDP government had not opposed the project in 1995 when it got all administrative clearances and when tenders were called for the construction in 2003. Similarly, projects with an investment of Rs.20,000 crore were built on the Krishna in Karnataka to deprive the due share of Andhra Pradesh farmers in the river water.

On both the occasions the TDP and the NDA were in power in the State and at the Centre, respectively, but they completely neglected the issue. “The present protests do not make any sense,” she said. However, Ms. Purandeswari strongly criticised the manner in which the Maharashtra police dealt with women MLAs of the TDP during their arrests and protests.

Asked about the proposal to hold a common entrance test for admissions into all engineering colleges across the country, the Minister said it was still at the level of discussions and a decision would be taken soon. Also, there was a proposal to set up a National Educational Financial Corporation to re-finance the banks for the loans extended to students. Consultations were on with the banks in this regard, she said.

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