Congress president Sonia Gandhi is believed to have expressed concern at the development and urged prime minister Manmohan Singh to hold discussions with both chief ministers.
Struggling to revive his sagging political fortunes in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu has managed to corner some limelight by leaving two Congress-led states at loggerheads after leading a delegation to the Babhli dam site in Nanded district — interestingly, the Maharashtra chief minister’s hometown.
Aware that the issue might soon escalate into a battle between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, chief minister Ashok Chavan has sought the Centre’s intervention to resolve the issue. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is believed to have expressed concern at the development and urged prime minister Manmohan Singh to hold discussions with both chief ministers.
Sources said both sides have been advised against stoking passion by harping on state pride. The leaders have been instructed to diffuse the Godavari water dispute by isolating the TDP.
“The government is ready to accept the memorandum from Naidu. But we cannot allow him and his supporters to visit the site as it would flare up into a law and order problem,” Chavan said on Sunday. “I have urged Naidu to leave Maharashtra and return to Andhra Pradesh. Nobody can forcibly enter Maharashtra on personal political agenda. If he ignores our decision, we will act sternly.” He said the situation in the region is tense and the state cannot afford any violence.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah has urged Chavan over telephone to allow Naidu and his team to visit the Babhli dam site to ascertain the facts for themselves. Chavan has curtly refused saying, “It cannot be done as it is against Maharashtra’s interests.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of growing tension between the two states, the Maharashtra government has deployed huge police contingents at Dharmabad in Nanded district. Local politicians in Marathwada have joined hands to launch demonstrations against Naidu.
Chavan’s brother-in-law and Lok Sabha member Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar has given a Nanded bandh call on Tuesday. It was in response to the TDP’s bandh call given in Andhra Pradesh. Khatgaonkar, who is leading an all-party organisation, said, “If Naidu does not leave our state, we will protest through a bandh.”
The development does not auger well for Chavan as Nanded happens to be his home town and constituency. He finds himself in a dilemma as any attempt to silence the in-house demonstration would tantamount to going against the state’s interest and bowing to the Centre’s orders. Throughout Sunday, the chief minister tried to use the help of emissaries to convince the TDP leader to return to Andhra Pradesh peacefully.
Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, “What can we do if Naidu refuses to return to Andhra Pradesh? Then they have the audacity to say we are ill-treating them in Maharashtra.”
He dismissed Naidu’s protest as a “political stunt”. Bhujbal said, “The Maharashtra government is willing to furnish all the information related to the Babhli dam project to Naidu. If he has any queries, we are ready to answer. After a day’s protest, we provided him with a face-saver to take bail and return to Andhra Pradesh. But he has refused. We are against arresting any politician. But we have no other option but to lodge him in the prison.”
Upset at Naidu’s brand of politics, home minister RR Patil said, “Why did Naidu not raise the water issue when he was the chief minister? Why has he suddenly woken to the Babhli dam now? It’s a political agenda to grab centrestage.”
The Congress-NCP has found support among the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders who feel Naidu should be taught a lesson by sending him to Nashik jail.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}