Venkaiah accuses Congress of insulting Telugu people

BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday accused the Congress party of insulting the Telugu people over the issue of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference here, Venkaiah Naidu said that although the Congress Government is search for houses for Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who is going to step-down in June. But no efforts are being made to find a location for new capital of Seemandhra people, he alleged.

Venkaiah Naidu said that Union Minister Jairam Ramesh expressed surprise over 435 institutions in Hyderabad, but did not specify how he would replicate the same in Seemandhra. About Special Status, BJP was not talking about this publicly, as there would be a plethora of demands, which were seen the next day. He also asked as to why the packages for Seemandhra were not present in the Parliament by the Congress Government. He said no body would believe the statements being made by ministers and Congress leaders outside the House.

"Jairam Ramesh's asking "Who is Kiran?" speaks of his arrogance or part of their dirty game. Your own General Secretary gave him a certificate and praised him as most loyal person and now Jairam Ramesh asks who he is. Central ministers who says who is Kiran, after June they may ask who is Sonia and who is Manmohan," he asked.

Venkaiah Naidu asked at to why there were no Telugu people in the Group of Ministers. "Do you think the Telugu people are incapable; you don’t have confidence in Telugu people. You have insulted the Telugu people. That’s why GoM was not aware of the consequences of the division. I have to tell them what is required for Seemandhra, Telangana. Therefore, one Telangana and one Seemandhra minister would have made much difference," he said.

The BJP leader said that in Andhra Pradesh people feel that Telugu man is fit to be the Chief Secretary. But even before the President Rule is imposed, Governor recommends the name, Center approves. "It is another insult to Telugu people. Your leaders have insulted Telugus like Anjaiah and you paid for it earlier. It’s quite natural for the persons ignored to fell letdown, insulted," he said.

"If you want an outsider to guide the process, you should have allowed the current Chief Secretary to be in-charge to guide the matters of divisions and allowed the Telugu Chief Secretary to take care of the administration. You don’t have any respect for the traditions, rules, seniority and sentiments of Telugu people. Is it wrong on part of a senior and honest officer to aim to become the Chief Secretary? How much you have hurt him mentally?" asked Venkaiah.

Venkaiah Naidu said that being a national party, BJP wants justice to all the regions, be it Telangana or Seemandhra. "We stood by people of Telangana by fulfilling our commitment in spite of ugly games by Congress. We were firm that Hyderabad should be a part of Telangana as it is in Telangana. We have kept our credibility," he said.