Desperate YSR talking crazy, says Babu

VV బాలకృష్ణ

First Published : 18 Apr 2009 09:43:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 18 Apr 2009 02:39:15 PM IST
KAIKALUR (Krishna Dt): “People of Rayalaseema and Andhra would never be treated as foreigners in Hyderabad. It is Congress president Sonia Gandhi who is a foreigner as she hails from Italy,’’ Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has said.
Coming down heavily on Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy for his remarks yesterday in Kurnool district, after the first phase of election, that Andhra and Rayalaseema people would become foreigners in Hyderabad if people voted the Grand Alliance to power, Naidu alleged that Rajasekhara Reddy was fanning regional ill-will among people.
“Rajasekhara Reddy is making crazy statements for the sake of regaining power,’’ he said in an election meeting here today.
Stating the Chief Minister had made the statement out of frustration, Naidu said the TDP was committed to the welfare of settlers in Hyderabad. It gave more seats to them, he pointed out.
“There is no insecurity to Andhra people in Hyderabad,’’ he averred.
“It was Rajasekhara Reddy who provoked Rayalaseema people during the NTR regime and was also responsible for a delegation of Telangana legislators meeting Sonia Gandhi for a separate State during my tenure,’’ Naidu said.
Rajasekhara Reddy’s only aim was to remain in power. For this, he was creating differences among various regions, he charged. ``All of us know Rajasekhara Reddy’s criminal background,’’ Naidu alleged.
Naidu said the TDP was not against irrigation projects.
“When Maharashtra government was constructing Babhali project, Rajasekhara Reddy remained silent and failed to protect State’s interests,’’ he alleged.
Questioning the sincerity of Rajasekhara Reddy on irrigation projects, Naidu said in the case of Polavaram, digging of canals was taken up before the actual project works, for the sake of kickbacks. He further alleged that Rajasekhara Reddy had diverted Krishna waters to the factories set up by his son Jagan Mohan Reddy.
“We have assured allocation from Krishna and Godavari rivers.
Our share will be utilised fully, if the Grand Alliance is voted to power,’’ Naidu assured.
On the Kolleru lake operation, Naidu said the farmers who had lost 7,500 acres would be given lands there in the lake. He assured Upputeru would be widened.
Seeking votes for Maganti Babu, former Congress minister, Naidu said honest politicians found no place in `corrupt’ Rajasekhara Reddy’ rule.