‘I refused PM post twice’

Telugu Desam president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that he had never aspired for the prime minister’s post and had declined the top slot twice when it was offered to him by the United Front, National Front and UNPA leaders in the past.

Telugu Desam president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that he had never aspired for the prime minister’s post and had declined the top slot twice when it was offered to him by the United Front, National Front and UNPA leaders in the past.

He was interacting with media persons at Kavali before proceeding to Uday-agiri as part of his Rythu Porubata programme on Monday. He maintained that he was not after power and his intention was to safeguard the interests of people. He said that no chief minister had continued as opposition leader like him for two terms after losing power.

“I will strive to develop the state as a peoples’ representative without any room for corruption with the slogans of self-respect and self-confidence. We are ready to join with like-minded parties to achieve this objective,” Mr Naidu said, inviting all parties to join hands to make the state corruption free.

Lauding the Supreme Court verdict related to cancelling 2G licenses pertaining to 122 companies, he questioned the rationale behind Dr Manmohan Singh continuing as Prime Minister. He said that Dr Singh should have invited and discussed with Anna Hazare on steps to eradicate corruption, soon after his agitation against corruption.

Stressing the need to make youth play an active role in society, he said that his party planned four conventions to spell out the role of youth in the party.

He demanded a comprehensive probe into corruption charges to identify the role of all those involved and take action against them.

To a question on IAS officers’ protest against the CBI for targeting them, he said that the officers had been paying the penalty for succumbing to pressu-re and committing mistak-es during the YSR regime. Taking strong objection to statements of a leader over a TD understanding with the Congress, he condemned this and added that they had no need to sail with a spoilt party.

Mr Naidu interacted with farmers who were hit by unseasonal rains during his padayatra from Siddanakonduru crossroad to Kaligiri in Udayagiri constituency.

He unveiled a statue of NTR at Peddipadu in Kaligiri mandal. He addressed a public meeting at Kaligiri before closing his tour.

source:dc