YSR Congress Charges Baseless: Loksatta Party

The Loksatta Party today refuted the charge that it had colluded with the TDP in criticising the YSRCP's election manifesto.

Responding to YSRCP leader Gattu Ramachandra Rao's charge, State Loksatta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao in a media statement pointed out that the Loksatta had taken exception to irresponsible and wild promises being made not merely by the YSRCP but also by the TDP and the TRS.

Even as the Loksatta was fighting for ways and means to meet the revenue deficits the two emerging States are about to face, some parties are seeking to aggravate the crisis by making reckless promises like loan waivers.

The Loksatta had criticised the YSRCP for its costly promises including payment of money for enrolment of children in schools when the problem of the day was the quality of education and not enrolment. The move amounts to bribing voters, it had said.

It had also taken exception to the YSRCP proposal to make judges part of the administration, in total violation of the Constitution.

Loksatta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan merely drew attention to the irresponsible promises in the YSRCP manifesto but had never said he did not understand it, Katari added.

Instead of taking Loksatta's criticism in the right spirit and correcting its course, the YSRCP had exposed its bankrupt thinking by indulging in counter-attacks, Katari said.

In reply to the charge that the Loksatta had never sought a probe into charges of corruption against TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu, Katari recalled that the Loksatta on October 16, 2007, had sought constitution of a special court to go into corruption allegations exchanged by the then Chief Minister Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu in the Assembly.

Dr. JP had reiterated the demand on April 1, 2008, when the Assembly discussed corruption among elected representatives. In fact, he had drafted a Bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act providing for swift and sure punishment including confiscation of properties of the corrupt, and had circulated it among Government and Opposition leaders on June 10, 2009. But all the parties shied away from following it up, Katari alleged.

Katari said that the Loksatta Party in its 18-year history as a movement and party had the distinction of working openly with all parties and forces interested in cleansing politics, unlike the YSRCP which entered into secret nocturnal deals. He asked the YSRCP to respond to criticism on policy issues with dignity and decorum and not indulge in cheap counter attacks. (INN)