Naidu, KCR engage in fierce exchange of words

Guntur/Hyderabad, Jun 8: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao today traded charges in the backdrop of the row over Naidu's alleged bribe offer, raising the political temperature in the two states coming to terms with a bitter separation.

A day after audio tapes allegedly containing Naidu's conversation with a nominated MLA in connection with the Telangana Legislative Council polls surfaced, the Andhra CM launched a scathing attack on Rao who hit back at his old political rival equally hard.

Besides Rao-led TRS, Naidu attacked YSR Congress Party and also targeted Congress President Sonia Gandhi over "injustice" meted out to Andhra Pradesh in last year's bifurcation which resulted in formation of Telangana.

"I said earlier. They have done politics of corruption and conspiracy. They are Congress, TRS and YSR Congress Party. Again, they are conspiring against me. I have lived with honesty and for public service.

"When Andhra Pradesh is developing, this inefficient KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) is unable to do anything and is conspiring against me," he said. Naidu was addressing a public meeting organised by his government near here on completion of one year in office. TDP MLA in Telangana A Revanth Reddy was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA in the council polls.

Noting that law and order in Hyderabad city (common capital for 10 years) is in the hands of the Governor, who is now common for both states, Naidu said he cannot be cowed down by threats done through "phone tapping, sting operations and fabricated documents". Referring to TRS' attack on TDP over a party MLA allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA, Naidu accused TRS in Telangana of encouraging defections from his party.

When the Governor has the powers on law and order in Hyderabad under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, how can Telangana government tap his phones and try to boss over AP government? Naidu said.

"I am warning TRS government. Please think. Let there not be any quarrels between the states. If we have quarrels between the states, it will go too far.

What powers you have, I have more powers. If I open my eyes, you will have many difficulties...," he thundered. In a sharp attack on the Congress President, Naidu said her party did "injustice" to Andhra Pradesh during bifurcation (the process started under UPA Government).

The Telangana Chief Minister responded to Naidu's comments with equal force. "Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting in Andhra and spoke. He says he was being implicated in the (graft) matter by ACB illegally.

You implicate others, would you get implicated? Can illegal cases be filed against you? Are we supposed to keep quiet when someone from a neighbouring state comes and win a MLC seat by purchasing ruling party MLAs?" Rao maintained.

PTI