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TDP & BJP accuses Congress of misusing official machinery
Failure to vist Hyderabad and call on the twin blast victims’kin
The Telugu Desham Party and BJP have accused the Congress of ‘misusing’ official machinery for UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s visit and faulted her for failing to call on the twin blast victims family members and also the injured. Launching a broadside against Ms.Gandhi, TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu said it was unfortunate that she skipped a visit Hyderabad where law and order was at its worst. From a truly international city known for attracting investments, today nobody wants to come here as it was no ranger safe, he said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Media adviser Sanjaya Baru himself admitted that the city had lost 5,000 jobs because a MNC preferred to set up shop in Kuala Lumpur, the TDP chief said. He accused Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy of ‘misusing authority’ for the visit of Ms. Gandhi though she was doing so in her capacity as AICC president and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance. He wondered how a political party could use 2,000 RTC buses and hundreds of private vehicles and mobilise SHG women just because its president was visiting the state. Mr. Naidu said through the state was ravaged by floods six times and the Government requested Central aid of Rs. 15,000crores, but the amount received so far was a paltry Rs. 100crores. Ms. Gandhi just had lip sympathy of help and nothing else, he alleged. On the Obulupuram Mining Company issue, he said all the party wanted the government was to get maximum revenue that could be used for the development of the local area.
‘Vote-bank politics’
At another press conference, State BJP president B. Dattatreya charged Ms. Gandhi with not visiting Hyderabad due to “vote-bank politics.” He alleged that she had shied away by calling on the blast victims’ families only to please Dr. Reddy. He said Ms. Gandhi’s failure to visit the city was a big political blunder.” Mr. Dattatreya alleged that the congress had misused power for her visit, hich was organised to boost Dr.Reddy’s sagging image.” He said the BJP would launch a ‘Save Hyderabad, Save India’ campaign during which the party activists would visit every house in the city to collect signatures.