10-03-2004, 04:21 AM
UPA lacks direction, says Yerrannaidu
By Our Special Correspondent
SRIKAKULAM, OCT. 2. <b>Leader of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP), K. Yerrannaidu, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the functioning of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government at the Centre and wondered whether it was the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, or the `Super Prime Minister', Sonia Gandhi, or the Left parties who was exercising the real constitutional authority. </b>
Price hike
Speaking at a party meeting here, Mr. Naidu recalled, how in Parliament in January, leaders of the UPA, then in the Opposition, had criticised the NDA Government for hiking prices of petroleum products and described the move `anti-people' and `anti-poor'. But the UPA Government within one month of assuming power had hiked the prices of petroleum products in June and July. It was about to hike them further in August, but because of fear of criticism from the Opposition, it had postponed the decision.
Inflation
The UPA has a Prime Minister and a Finance Minister known for their reforms. But these reformists had miserably failed to check inflation. Never in the past 15 years, inflation had gone up so much causing unprecedented hardship to the common man, he remarked.
Manipur had been a burning issue since long, but the Home Minister never cared to initiate steps to solve the problems of people there. When media persons in Delhi came to him seeking his comment on the functioning of the UPA Government after completion of two months, he said to comment on a Government's functioning, it should be given at least a year's time. "But observing the way things are drifting, one is forced to comment," Mr. Naidu said.
Numbers game
It was absolutely wrong to say that people had voted for the Congress in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. In a Lok Sabha with 544 seats, the Congress had got just 145 seats, how could any one claim that it was a vote for the Congress? he asked.
Rebirth
Earlier, Mr. Naidu became emotional while recalling the attack by PW activists on him on April and his narrow escape. "I consider it as rebirth. It is my first public meeting after that attack. I rededicate myself to the service of the people," he said.
By Our Special Correspondent
SRIKAKULAM, OCT. 2. <b>Leader of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP), K. Yerrannaidu, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the functioning of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government at the Centre and wondered whether it was the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, or the `Super Prime Minister', Sonia Gandhi, or the Left parties who was exercising the real constitutional authority. </b>
Price hike
Speaking at a party meeting here, Mr. Naidu recalled, how in Parliament in January, leaders of the UPA, then in the Opposition, had criticised the NDA Government for hiking prices of petroleum products and described the move `anti-people' and `anti-poor'. But the UPA Government within one month of assuming power had hiked the prices of petroleum products in June and July. It was about to hike them further in August, but because of fear of criticism from the Opposition, it had postponed the decision.
Inflation
The UPA has a Prime Minister and a Finance Minister known for their reforms. But these reformists had miserably failed to check inflation. Never in the past 15 years, inflation had gone up so much causing unprecedented hardship to the common man, he remarked.
Manipur had been a burning issue since long, but the Home Minister never cared to initiate steps to solve the problems of people there. When media persons in Delhi came to him seeking his comment on the functioning of the UPA Government after completion of two months, he said to comment on a Government's functioning, it should be given at least a year's time. "But observing the way things are drifting, one is forced to comment," Mr. Naidu said.
Numbers game
It was absolutely wrong to say that people had voted for the Congress in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. In a Lok Sabha with 544 seats, the Congress had got just 145 seats, how could any one claim that it was a vote for the Congress? he asked.
Rebirth
Earlier, Mr. Naidu became emotional while recalling the attack by PW activists on him on April and his narrow escape. "I consider it as rebirth. It is my first public meeting after that attack. I rededicate myself to the service of the people," he said.