Congress lashes out at Naidu for graft comments

The Congress Party on Thursday condemned Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu's statement wherein he held the ruling party responsible for rampant corruption in the State.

Talking to reporters, Legislative Council whip Y Shivaram Reddy alleged that it was Naidu who has sown the seeds of corruption at all levels during his nine-year tenure as the Chief Minister. He said the Congress Party was finding it difficult to eradicate the menace which has made strong roots at all levels. However, he said that the State Government has been making strenuous efforts to root out corruption from the society.

Shivaram Reddy reminded Naidu that several scams including Eluru scam and other irregularities occurred during the TDP rule. Naidu still faces allegations of corruption and has amassed huge wealth through illegal means, he alleged. He advised Naidu to check his own credentials before making comments about the Congress Party.

Stating that the Formula-1 project was not linked to development, Shivaram Reddy said that all States in the country would have organised F-1 races if they would have ensured development. He said instead of projects like F-1, the Congress government focussed more on setting up of industries and creation of direct employment opportunities. He ridiculed Naidu's criticism holding former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy responsible for losing F-1 project.

Meanwhile, Congress MLC Rudrajau Padmaraju alleged that the TDP president is demanding the cancellation of Polavaram tenders as his party MP Nama Nageshwara Rao failed to get its contracts. Accusing Naidu of trying to obstruct the development of the State, Padmaraju said that it was incorrect on the part of all political parties to try to stall a project on which nearly Rs 3,500 Crore have already been spent.