Govt beating student to hide inefficiencies: Babu

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday harshly criticized the lathi-charge on the agitating students of the Osmania University and accused the state government of beating up students to hide its inefficiencies.

Talking to media persons at Payakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam district, the TDP chief stated that though all parties had demanded cancellation of test, the government had remained adamant in its stance to go ahead with the test, under tight police security. The government had not announced its decision to postpone the test at the time Mr Naidu’s press briefing.

Condemning the police lathicharge and violence in Osmania University, he demanded the Home Minister withdraw forces immediately from the campus and take steps to bring normalcy.

He urged the government to postpone the test not only temporarily, but until President Pratibha Patil gives clearance to an Amendment deleting the controversial Clause 14 (F) in her Presidential Order.

The main opposition leader stated that his party would extend its unreserved support to the government in getting the Bill passed in Parliament.

Condemning the alleged irresponsible remarks made by Chief Minister K Rosaiah against journalists at Jubilee Hall on Thursday, the former chief minister demanded that Mr Rosaiah withdraws the remarks and issue an apology.

The TDP chief also charged the Chief Minister of being irresponsible in solving the problems of the state.

Reacting on the corruption charges in the allotment of 2G Spectrum, the Opposition leader stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh owes the nation a reply.

He demanded that the Prime Minister initiate action against former Union Minister for Communications A Raja as the CAG report found fault with the allocation of 2G Spectrum licenses. Mr Naidu also demanded a discussion in Parliament over the issue.