Naidu takes saffron turn

Hyderabad Dec. 4: The Leader of the Opposition, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday indicated how post-attack he saw the Bharatiya Janata Party gain when he accused the state government of compromising on the state’s security and going slow in the fight against terror to appease “some sections”. Participating in a debate in the Assembly, the TD leader said the “government was distancing itself from some to please some.” He, however, did not specify which section the government was trying to appease, though his observation reminded one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s constant allegation against the Congress government.

For the first time, he also alleged that the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, was encouraging Christians to propagate their religion in the temple town of Tirumala. “The Chief Minister is silent when people erected the (holy) cross in the abode of Lord Venkateshwara,” he said adding that the BJP took advantage of the situation and tried to flare up religious feelings. Interestingly, the TD members made fun of Majlis leader Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi when the latter referred to Muslims contribution to the country.

On Mr Owaisi’s observation that Muslims gave Taj Mahal, Charminar and Qutub Minar to the country, the TD members shouted that it was people’s money and not the rulers that was used to build the monuments. The TD is not against Majlis and the party should realise that it was joining hands with the Congress which remained silent when Babri Masjid was demolished. Replying to that, Mr Akbaruddin reminded Mr Naidu of his party joining hands with those who destroyed the mosque.

“The TD cannot wash off the blood stains of the Muslims butchered in Gujarat by the Modi government,” he said and asked why the party did not withdraw support then. He defended support to the Congress which he said increased budgetary allocations to minorities from Rs 32 crore in 2004 to Rs 200 crore this year. Muslim students benefited from reservation, he added.