Release incentives for Panchayats : TDP

Hyderabad, Aug 2 (UNI) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today sought immediate payment of incentives, as promised by the state government to Panchayats, where elections were held unanimously.

Talking to newsperons here, TDP legislature party deputy leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy said elections were held unanimously in 2,800 panchayats and an amount of Rs 145 crore was due to these local bodies.

He demanded that the state government release the amount immediately.

Alleging that the state government was ''spending hundreds of crores of rupees on publicity to cover up thousands of crores of corruption,'' the former minister claimed there was no corruption at all during the TDP regime.

When asked if that was so, why the party was defeated during 2004 elections, he said there were several reasons behind it and false propaganda by the Congress was one of that.

The Congress, which alleged that crores of rupees were swindled in the implementation of the food-for-work programme, could not prove it despite coming to power.

Dr Reddy also sought immediate surrender of 60 acres of assigned lands held by Congress MLA V Vasantakumar.

He asked why the Chief Minister, ministers and other party leaders were not questioning the MLA's act.

He alleged that ''Andhra Pradesh has become the bastion for corruption.'' UNI JRK VA RSA KP1855