AP BJP core panel decries TDP going for defections

The BJP core committee meeting in Vijayawda on Friday was marked by taking a tough stand on the criticism being faced by the party in regard to the Special Category Status demand for AP, hinting at a tough line against the alliance partner and ruling TDP in the State. Every BJP leader who spoke at the meeting sought to rub the TDP on the wrong side, especially criticising Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Somu Veeraraju, MLC, said instead of indulging in `Operation Akarsh' the TDP would be well advised to attract people. The State would benefit much if the same intensity was shown to people's issues. As for tur dal, he said the procurement price was Rs 7500 for 100 kg, but it was being sold for Rs 11,000. And if rice was procured for Rs 1100 from farmers and sold for Rs 4500, the government would go out of power, he warned. Vishnukumar Raju, MLA, reminded that the party had all along been opposed to encouraging defections. He blamed all parties for the denial of SCS for AP, while the BJP was being flayed over the demand. He claimed the BJP government at the Centre was giving all kinds of help to the TDP government. The AP government was however dodging on the issue of showing the accounts. The meeting was attended, among others, by the BJP in-charge of AP, Siddharthanath Singh, BJP State unit president Khambampati Haribabu, former Union minister Daggubati Purandeshwari and former MP Kavuri Sambasivarao.