Former MP targets N Chandrababu Naidu on stampede

Rajahmundry: Reacting sharply on the statement of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that he took holy dip in a different ghat but not the Pushkar ghat where 28 devotees were killed in the stampede during inauguration of Godavari Maha Pushkaralu, former MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar flayed him for mis-leading the people and alleged that the CM was suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

Speaking to newsmen here on Monday, the ex-MP said that though it was a known fact that the stampede took place as the police shut the gates of the Pushkar ghat while Naidu was taking holy dip and opened them soon after he comp-leted the rituals, the CM Naidu was claiming that the ghat where he performed rituals was different from where stampede took place.

Referring to another statement of the CM that he conducted elections to the local bodies soon after coming back to po-wer, the ex-MP said that the elections to the local bodies were held during the President’s rule in the state and wondered how Naidu was making false claims.

The former MP was also critical against the CM Naidu for dedicating the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme to nation without even completing the construction of the pump house.

He also expressed doubts over the commitment of the state government to complete the execution of Polavaram irrigation project.

Meanwhile former MP G. V. Harsha Kumar demanded for a thorough de-bate in the ongoing sessions of the state legislative Assembly on the stampede deaths which claimed 28 lives and asked the legislators to make the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as the culprit in the case.

Speaking to newsmen here on Monday, he said that the CM was not even having the moral right to move a motion in the Assembly to condole the death of the devotees and added that the kin of the deceased were not given relief so far.