We'll probe Konaseema deal: YSR

The new Congress government in Andhra Pradesh will not act vindictive against anybody, the chief minister-in-waiting, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), said here yesterday.

He said that the Congress government would, however, investigate the alleged kickbacks that were paid in the Konaseema Oakwell gas power project.

YSR said that the Congress government would ensure that the law would take its own course with regard to the corruption allegations made against outgoing chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Reacting to a question at a media conference, YSR said that the Congress party could not expose several malpractices and irregularities committed by Naidu, as the chief minister's post was not in the purview of Lok Ayukta institution which enquires into the corruption allegations being made against those in public office.

"I firmly believe that those in power must be totally accountable for their actions. We stick to our earlier accusations against Naidu in several scams. Though as an opposition party, we tried to prosecute Naidu for several scams but we could not succeed," YSR said.

"Now the situation has changed. It is necessary to find out who the 'big boss' was in the alleged deal. We will certainly work in this direction," he added.

He reiterated that all the commitments and promises made by the Congress party would be fulfiled once the government was in place.

He said that the Congress government would devise a scheme, on the lines of the compensation package being implemented by the Karnataka government, to take care of the families of farmers who committed suicides.

Launching a scathing attack on the outgoing chief minister for neglecting the plight of farmers and other toiling masses, YSR accused the Naidu government of having worked only for the rich and the creamy five per cent of the population while ignoring the issues of the rest of the 95 per cent.

"Naidu behaved like the proverbial Nero in the face of people's suffering. He lived in the hype created by the media. The contribution of the agricultural sector to the GSDP of the state has come down to a mere 13 per cent in 2004 from 26 per cent in 1994 which itself was not sufficient as over 67 per cent of the total population subsists on this sector alone. This single statistical fact tells the whole story of the criminal neglect committed by the Naidu regime. Farmers, agricultural labourers, artisans, dalits... every section of the society was put to untold hardships in his period. In the name of empowerment, the innocent women were fooled by Naidu to the maximum extent possible. Now we will work for these neglected 95 per cent of the population," YSR said.

Responding to a question on fake encounters, he said that the new government would resolve the extremist problem through a peaceful manner by initiating dialogue as early as possible.

On reasons for the landslide victory, he said that the confidence of the people in Sonia Gandhi's leadership combined with the anti-incumbency factor and the Telangana sentiment among others ensured a great victory for the Congress party at the hustings.

YSR said that his party, along with its allies, would get at least 36-37 seats out of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats on offer in the state.

On the question of forming a government in the state with the Congress' allies, YSR said that it was up to the Congress high command to decide on the issue.