Cong wants Oppn to take lessons from Karnataka

Hyderabad, Feb 13 (UNI) The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh today asked the Opposition parties to take lessons from their counterparts in Karnataka to protect the state's interests on various issues.

Moving the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, Government Chief Whip N Kirankumar Reddy said when it came to protecting the interests of the state, opposition parties in Karnataka were fully cooperating with the Government and referred to all party stir against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's award on sharing of Cauvery waters with other riparian states.

It would be better on the part of the opposition not to place hurdles for ongoing major irrigation initiative undertaken by the Congress Government. 'As and when all ongoing irrigation projects are completed, it will be of immense help to the farmers,' he said, thanking the Centre for coming out with a special package for the rescue of farmers in suicide-prone districts.

Another Congress member Deveneni Rajasekhar alias Nehru, who seconded the motion, also observed whether it was the question of raising the height of the Alamatti Dam across river Krishna or issue relating to sharing of Cauvery waters, the opposition parties were united with the ruling party in Karnataka.

It was unfortunate that opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh were moving the court and even stooping to the level of passing 'secret' information to other riparian states jeopardising the interest of the state, he felt.

Showering encomiums on Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr Nehru asked the opposition why it was upset when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi described him as the modern day 'Bhageeratha' for the massive irrigation projects undertaken by the State Government.

Instead of feeling bad, following AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh's description of Dr Reddy as modern day 'Vinobha Bhave' for surrendering land held by his family as part of commitment to usher in second generation land reforms, the opposition should concentrate on strengthening it organisationally, he added.

Earlier, the Government Chief Whip described Dr Reddy as a practising Doctor in the Chief Minister's post who had released as much as Rs 121 crore to needy patients from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for treatment. More than 5850 children suffering from heart ailments were provided treatment last year and the Government was getting ready to perform operation on 6000 children this year.

TDP members disrupted the speech of Mr Nehru as the latter had a dig at TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu, while praising TDP founder N T Rama Rao.

UNI