Why does Naidu promote 'Sivaji'?: Cong

Hyderabad, June 18 (UNI) The Congress today wondered whether Telugu Desam Party Supremo and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had made any investment in the Rs 90-crore Rajnikant-starrer 'Sivaji'.

Talking to mediapersons at the Congress Legislature Party office here, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, senior party leaders E Pratapa Reddy and Gade Venkata Reddy claimed Mr Naidu was asking all his party workers to go and watch the film.

Mr Raghuveera Reddy said the Congress had information that TDP President was personally calling district offices of the party and instructing office-bearers to ensure that every party worker watched the movie.

''He could have either invested in the film as he was giving so much publicity to it, or he might have thought that it would change his fate which would have otherwise been sealed for the next ten years as Congress was growing stronger and stronger,'' Mr Reddy said.

Addressing a party meeting yesterday, Mr Naidu asked party workers to watch 'Shivaji' as it reflected the present day politics in Andhra Pradesh.

Stating that he was talking too much about corruption lately, the Minister said the TDP chief, who made so many allegations against the government, could not prove even a single allegation, though the Chief Minister had appointed whatever Commission of inquiry he (Mr Naidu) wanted.

He also brushed aside Mr Naidu's latest allegation that Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy was starting two newspapers, investing Rs 600 crore, with the 'kickbacks' received through irrigation contracts.

Mr Reddy claimed the TDP president was unable to digest the fact that he had lost power.

UNI