The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the NDA government, will stall, if necessary, the first day of proceedings of the monsoon session of the Parliament which begins tomorrow, by insisting on an adjournment motion on the ‘‘illegal irrigation projects’’ being constructed by Karnataka and Maharashtra. A Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party meeting held under the chairmanship of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu here today also decided to oppose BJP moves on two major issues: bringing a legislation to solve the Ayodhya tangle, and the mooted dilution of the women’s Bill. During his hour-long address to MPs, Naidu asked them to highlight the ‘‘injustice’’ done to Andhra farmers by Karnataka and Maharashtra which have been constructing several irrigation projects across Krishna river allegedly in violation to the Bachawat Tribunal award. The TDP meet opined that the Ayodhya dispute should only be resolved through a judicial verdict. ‘‘Bringing a legislation on the Ayodhya issue is not on the common agenda of the NDA, so we will strongly oppose any such proposal,’’ said TDP leader K Yerran Naidu, who briefed the media later.Likewise, the party condemned any move to dilute the Women’s Reservation Bill which provides for a 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament and legislatures. ‘‘Proposals like slashing quota or creating double-member seats for women are unacceptable to us,’’ Yerran Naidu said. The TDP will be joining hands with the Opposition parties while opposing the proposed hike in prices of LPG and kerosene. ‘‘The price hike would affect AP most as over 15 lakh poor women had taken gas connections through the Deepam scheme,’’ he explained.
