Dattatreya challenges State on price rise

State BJP chief addresses a human chain

ON THE WARPATH: State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya at a protest meet in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — PHOTO: G. KRISHNASWAMY

HYDERABAD: State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya has challenged the Government to come forward for an open discussion on the rising prices of essential commodities instead of making false claims.

Mr. Dattatreya, who was addressing a human chain formed at Liberty Circle as a part of the Jan Jagaran agitation of the party on Tuesday, said the Government was least bothered about the price rise and no essential commodity was available at an affordable price even after Ministers issued statements of controlling the price rise.

Black marketers

Onions are selling at Rs. 16 per kg despite the Government promising to supply at Rs. 6.50 per kg.

Black marketers have stored more than two lakh tonnes of pulses leading to price rise but the Government has so far not raided a single dealer.

He reminded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had warned all the Congress Chief Ministers to control prices at a special meeting held last year, but the prices have only spiralled.

He said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has proudly claimed that ration cards have been increased from two crores to four crores but there is nothing in the ration shops to supply.

10 litres

Earlier, white ration cardholders used to draw 18 litres of kerosene, but now that is reduced to 10 litres only.

He said the "Jan Jagaran" agitation would continue till February 15 all over the State.

Later, he released a list of comparative prices of essential commodities during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Governments (see graphics).

BJP satisfied over show in civic polls

Panel to look into acts of indiscipline

ALL ATTENTION: BJP leaders K. Laxman, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, and Bandaru Dattatreya at the State executive meeting of the party in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: The State Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed satisfaction at the party's performance in municipal elections saying it has a secured sizable chunk of votes, though it was unable to win many seats.

At a briefing after the meeting, K. Laxman, general secretary and S.V. Seshagiri Rao, vice-president, said the indirect elections brought in by the Congress had led astray the electoral strategies of all political parties and vitiated the political atmosphere. Even the TDP, the main opposition party too had failed to turn into votes for itself, notwithstanding "the anti-Congress" feeling among people.

The BJP leaders said in the co-operative elections scheduled in October-end, the party would go it alone, as it would in next year's elections to panchayat bodies. After the elections, around the first week of November, a 3-day "Chintan Baithak" would be held to finalise electoral strategy and the party's roadmap until the next general elections.

Mr. Laxman said a two-member committee would be constituted to look into "acts of indiscipline" in Anantapur and East Godavari districts. Five party leaders had been suspended for going against the party's whip in Dharmavaram. The action of party MLA from Pithapuram Dora Babu had raised a storm in the party where he was quoted in the media as having said that it was only in the interest of development that he had asked people to vote for the Congress.

Dattatreya flags off rallies

Mobilising support: BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya and others participating in a motorcycle rally on Sunday .

HYDERABAD: State BJP president B. Dattatreya on Sunday flagged off scooter rallies in Khairatabad and Jubilee Hills areas to campaign in connection with the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani’s public meeting here as part of ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’.

Flagging off the rallies, he urged the cadres to visit every household and create awareness on the reasons for the economic situation, price rise and vote-bank politics. He told them to highlight problems like bad condition of city roads. Greater Hyderabad BJP unit president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy led the Khairatabad rally.

Dattatreya begins fast against Babli project

State Government's stand on irrigation projects come under fire Government's stand on projects draws flak

WARANGAL: The Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, began his 24-hour hunger strike here protesting against the `indifferent attitude' of the State in stalling the Babli and other projects being constructed by Maharasthra.

Accompanied by party leaders, Mr. Dattatreya launched the hunger strike near the Collectorate.

Addressing the gathering, he said the Government had come up with plans to construct 26 irrigation projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 45,000 crores.

But, it had failed to ensure water allocated for each project and to prevail upon Karnataka and Maharasthra to stop unauthorised construction of irrigation projects.

"The projects being pursued by the neighbouring states are going to deprive water for farmers of Andhra Pradesh. The Government should have taken up the issue with the Centre and Central Water Commission," he pointed out.

"The ongoing Babli project in Maharasthra aims at utilising additional Godavari waters unauthorisedly. It will stop the water flowing into the SRSP which is catering to the needs of farmers in north Telangana region. Karimnagar and Warangal towns will be deprived of drinking water.

If the Government fails to sort out the issue with Maharasthra, the BJP will intensify the agitation," he said.

The BJP leader also found fault with the State Government for pursuing the projects like Pulichintala that were resulting in regional differences.

He advised the Government to complete Ichampalli project before going ahead with Pulichinthala. "The BJP wants the Government to ensure 800 tmc of Godavari waters to Telangana region which is its rightful share," he said.

Congress blocking Bill on Telangana: Dattatreya

Party deliberately disallowing voting on the Bill, says BJP leader

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Support promised to Congress if it moves Bill on Telangana in winter session

Formalities for formation of Telangana completed, says BJP leader

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Bandaru Dattatreya

KARIMNAGAR: BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya alleged that the Congress is conspiring to weaken the introduction of the private member's Bill on Telangana in Parliament and deliberately disallowing voting on the Bill.

Reacting to reports about the private member's resolution being rejected due to lack of quorum in Parliament on Friday, he said that "it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure quorum in Parliament.'' The Congress Government with an ulterior motive was trying to obstruct the introduction of the private member's Bill in Parliament by ensuring that there was no quorum, he said.

Assures support

Earlier, the BJP State president announced unconditional support to the Congress if it introduces the Bill on the formation of Telangana Sate during the winter session of Parliament. "We will withdraw our private member's Bill on Telangana and support the Congress if it introduces the Bill in Parliament.

Formalities complete

Addressing a press conference here after releasing copies of the State of Telangana Bill 2006 to the media here on Friday evening, he said, "We have completed all formalities for formation of Telangana by preparing the Bill."

Congress committed to OBC quota, says APCC chief

Says stir on the issue in northern States reflects degeneration in politics

WHAT'S UP: APCC president K. Keshava Rao with BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya at an all-party meeting on OBC reservation in Hyderabad on Sunday. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Keshava Rao has said that the recent anti-reservation stir in northern States reflects the degeneration in politics as the agitation targeted a Constitutional amendment by Parliament.

"How credible is such politics of upper castes?" he asked at a meeting organised by State BC Welfare Association here on Sunday.

Mr. Keshava Rao said that those opposing reservations expressed their anger in a manner that everything was over for the country by the 27 per cent quota for OBCs.

They made a hollow claim that merit was a casualty in the process. Merit could be judged only after students underwent courses. They should be evaluated on an even keel to know their worth, he said, adding that merit had no meaning before students joined a course.

`Increase seats'

The APCC chief maintained that Congress was committed to implementing the quota for OBCs.

The Government could increase seats for other castes to make up for their shortage owing to the implementation of the quota but the rule of reservation should be followed for the hiked seats as well.

BJP Secretary B. Dattatreya said that BCs could not expect justice unless they got political reservations. Association president R. Krishnaiah also spoke.

Source : The Hindu

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya

Bandaru Dattatreya

About

Bandaru Dattatreya (born 26 February 1947) is currently the president of BJP\'s Andhra Pradesh unit. He has been elected thrice as member of parliament from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency in India and former Union Minister. He is one of the Kuruba caste eminent political leader in this region.

Education

BSc. In 1980 he was Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.), Andhra Pradesh. From 1981-89 General-Secretary, B.J.P., Andhra Pradesh. In 1991 Elected to 10th Lok Sabha. Member, Public Accounts Committee. Member, Committee on Welfare of SCs, STs and Minorities. 1996-98 President, B.J.P., Andhra Pradesh. 1998 Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term). 1998-99 Union Minister of State, Urban Development . Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term). Union Minister of State, Ministry of Urban Development.Union Minister of State, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.Union Minister of State, Ministry of Railways.