People are with Congress: CM

Hyderabad, Sep 2 (UNI) Making light of attempts by TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu to cobble up a grand alliance to face the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today asserted that the ''Congress is ready to face them as people are with the party.'' Intervening during discussion on farmers' issues in the state Assembly, he contended that Mr Naidu, out of fear, was trying to woo the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and even the newly-floated party by matinee idol Chiranjeevi to face the ruling Congress.

Even as the TDP members disrupted the proceedings by shouting slogans against the ''anti-farmer'' Rajasekhara Reddy government, the Chief Minister said, ''let all the parties come together. They are not a match to the Congress as all sections of people, including farmers and farm labourers, are with us.'' Urging the Opposition parties not to ''politicise'' the fertilisers issue, he maintained that though there was some initial delay on the part of the Centre to procure fertilisers, the supply position was now comfortable.

''There is no cause for worry now. The government will ensure that adequate quantity of fertilisers is provided to all farmers,'' he said.

Alleging that the TDP during its nine-year rule had neglected the farmers' interest altogether, Dr Reddy asked the TDP members not to put hurdles in his government's efforts to ensure farmers' welfare.

Even as the TDP members continued their noisy protest in the well of the House, taking strong objection to Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy's demand that Mr Naidu apologise to agriculturists for ''totally neglecting their welfare during the previous TDP regime'', Deputy Speaker G Kutuhalammma, who was in the chair, adjourned the House to meet again on September four.

UNI SM VA GL HT1740