Naming controversy turns intense as Cong, TDP hold protests
Hyderabad, Nov 22 (INN): The controversy over the naming of domestic terminal of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad after former Chief Minister late NT Ramarao turned intense with both the Congress and Telugu Desam Party holding dharnas against each other.
While senior leaders of Telangana Congress organised a dharna before the statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Somajiguda here on Saturday, the TDP leaders too staged protest at Indira Park against the resolution passed by the State Legislative Assembly against the renaming. TDP senior leader Motkupally Narasimhulu also observed day-long fast in support of renaming of RGAI's domestic terminal.
Addressing the dharna camp, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu condemned the opposition for renaming of domestic terminal after NTR. Making an indirect attack on his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao, Naidu said some people who are opposing NTR's name began their political careers due to blessings of the TDP founder.
He said that the TDP, in its 2009 manifesto, had promised to name the domestic terminal after NTR. He asked as to why TRS, which was an ally, did not object to the same in 2009 itself. "If NTR was born in Andhra, then where Sonia Gandhi was born?" he asked.
Naidu described NTR as the messiah for poor who introduced several welfare schemes like Rs 2 kg rice scheme for the first time in the country. He also claimed that NTR gave freedom to the people of Telangana from 'Patel and Patwari'.
Meanwhile, the Congress leaders too registered a strong protest. Leader of the Opposition K Jana Reddy described the Centre's proposal to rename the domestic terminal as unconstitutional. TPCC President Ponnala Lakshmaiah hailed the resolution passed in State Legislative Assembly and informed that dharnas would be conducted on Monday at all District Headquarters.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao accused the Centre of creating enmity between the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He said he would raise the issue in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.
News Posted: 22 November, 2014
|
.gif)
