BJP to put TDP "charges" on net

HYDERABAD, January 9: The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Chandrababu Naidu Government of utter failure on all fronts during its two-...

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HYDERABAD, January 9: The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Chandrababu Naidu Government of utter failure on all fronts during its two-year rule and of reversing promises made to people.

The party yesterday released a charge-sheet against what it called the "misrule" of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh. Published in the BJP’s mouthpiece Udayakamalam, it contains 100 charges against Naidu and the TDP government which came to power "through the back door".

Releasing the charge-sheet at a press conference, BJP State unit president Bandaru Dattatreya said it would be a part of the party’s campaign material for the Lok Sabha elections. The charge-sheet would also be put on the Internet to counter the TDP’s hi-tech publicity.

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The charges against the State Government include dilution of the subsidised rice scheme, relaxation of the dry law, reported irregularities in housing for the weaker sections, the "failure" to clear pending projects, the "compromise" with Karnataka on the Almatti dam issue, the closure of several public enterprises, the alleged kickbacks in award of a hi-tech city project to Larsen & Toubro, the Yeleru and Visakhapatnam Port Trust scandals, the alleged misuse of funds under Janmabhoomi, "involvement of ruling party leaders" in sale of illicit liquor, the "failure" to prevent suicides by farmers and the growing extremist violence.

BJP all-India vice-president Bangaru Laxman said the party had released a similar charge-sheet during the N T Rama Rao regime which, according to him, helped the late TDP supremo "rectify lopsided policies".

Laxman charged that the Chief Minister, who had criticised the previous Congress government for sanction of power projects in the State, had cleared the same schemes "at higher rates".

BJP floor leader Vidyasagar Rao said the charges made by the party were based on evidence. He hoped the people will "convict" Naidu by defeating TDP candidates in the elections.

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BJP all-India general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu said the issues raised in the charge-sheet were of a serious nature.