TDP is not against Telangana, reiterates Naidu

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday reiterated that his party was not against the formation of Telangana.

Participating in the TDP's regional conference at Kompally here, Naidu said that the TDP has clarified several times that it was not against granting statehood for Telangana region. He said that party has clarified its stand both before the public and the Centre on several occasions.

The TDP chief also announced that all cases registered against Telangana activists would be withdrawn if his party returns to power after next elections. He also expressed sympathies with the families of those who committed suicide for the cause of Telangana.

Speaking about ensuing Gram Panchayat elections, Naidu said that the State Government was conducting the polls in a non-cordial atmosphere. However, he expressed confidence that the TDP would win the Gram Panchayat elections.

Naidu also said that the TDP was always in favour of strengthening the local bodies and decentralisation of power. He said that the party would grant more power to Gram Sabhas and other local bodies if it returns to power in the State.

The TDP president also accused the State Government of providing inadequate relief to the pilgrims who were stranded in Uttarakhand floods. He said while the TDP has helped the pilgrims on humanitarian grounds, the government has even failed to pay the promised compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed in floods.

TDP leaders from Ranga Reddy, Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts are participating in the party's regional conference which has been convened to finalise strategy for the Gram Panchayat elections.