Praja Rajyam hits back at Telugu Desam

HYDERABAD: The Praja Rajyam claims that Telugu Desam leaders were heckling it every stage as they were jittery about its growing popularity.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, senior PR leaders C. Ramachandraiah and Tammineni Sitaram took exception to the TDP’s allegation that their party had ditched the slogan of social justice and lacked clarity on the demand for separate Telangana as well as the government’s policy on Special Economic Zones.

They said the party was indeed committed to social justice and the same would be reflected in its election manifesto. On the other hand, it was the TDP that made a turnaround in its policies promising supply of rice free of cost, pensions and free power though it had ruled this out prior to 2004 elections.

Telangana issue

The PR was committed to separate Telangana and would welcome Statehood to the region. The TDP, however, lacked clarity on the Telangana issue as it strongly opposed the demand before 2004 and expressed support now. Moreover, it was trying to forge alliance with parties that had contradictory stands on separate Telangana. They also said the PR was not against industrial promotion but was opposed to acquisition of land in the name of SEZs.