Naidu warns of nationwide stir over Babli

Telugu Desam Party chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu on  Tuesday called for a speedy solution to the Babli row and threatened to launch a nationawide agitation over the issue.

 Speaking to the media here after holding consultations with  various political  leaders at the national level, he said Prime  Minster Manmohan Singh was not keen on the Babli project. Instead, he should come out with an early solution to the pending Babli issue.

 ''Why is Singh silent? Yesterday’s was the third representation that the parties from Andhra made to the Prime Minister on the Babli issue in three years. Still he told the delegation that he will first talk to technical experts and see what can be done. He is not interested,” he told reporters here.

Naidu also alleged that the Babli barrage was an “illegal construction” as it is being constructed by Maharashtra in the “submergence area.”

“The Centre and Congress are responsible. We give him 15 days to solve the issue, otherwise TDP along with like-minded parties will launch a mass agitation. The date is August 10,” he said but declined to elaborate.

The Maharashtra Government has gone against the directions of the Centre and orders of the Supreme Court. But still the Prime Minister says he can sort out after consulting technical experts, he said.

He also charged the Chief Minister with failing to protect the rights of the State and pursuing the contempt petition filed against Maharashtra by Andhra Pradesh last year.