TDP, Cong making promises to mislead people: BJP

Hyderabad, Oct 13 (UNI) BJP National Secretary N Indrasena Reddy today said the promises made by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy were only to mislead the people in anticipation of early elections.

Addressing the press here, Mr Indrasena Reddy alleged the TDP, 'which had not bothered about people's welfare and state's development during its nine-year rule,' was making several promises, including distribution of house sites, free power to farmers and revival of Rs 2 per kg of rice schemes.

He wondered how the TDP would implement these schemes when it had not done anything during its rule and 'openly denounced the role of agriculture.' TDP Founder-President N T Rama Rao had introduced the Rs 2 a kg rice scheme. But when Mr Naidu became the Chief Minister, he increased the rate to Rs 3.50 in 1996 and to Rs 5.50 in 2000, saying it was not possible to provide rice at Rs 2 a kg in view of the financial condition of the state.

The BJP leader said how Mr Naidu would provide 148 yards for the house sites to all the poor people when 'he reduced the extent of land demanded by the Below Poverty Line (BPL) people for house sites to 90 yards from 120 yards and then to 60 yards.

He ridiculed Mr Naidu's statement of providing lands to Lambadas in the Gurukul Trust Lands when 'he forcibly razed their houses constructed on these lands.' He alleged the Chief Minister and the TDP President were sailing in the same boat by making promises to the people in view of prospects for early elections.

Asked about the possibility of early elections, he said polls would be held soon in the current political scenario.

UNI