Naidu yatra to Babli on July 16

The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has decided to undertake a bus yatra with party MLAs, MPs and other elected representatives to the Babli irrigation project in Maharashtra bordering Adilabad district.

Mr Naidu’s visit to the project site on July 16 has two purposes: one, to make it a national issue and second, to indirectly campaign for the bypolls in the Telangana region.

The TD has been grilling the state government for its failure to stop illegal construction of the Babli project by Maharashtra and 13 other smaller irrigation schemes across the river Godavari. Maharashtra recently called for tenders for four more irrigation schemes.

On Wednesday, the TD MLA, Mr E. Dayakar Rao, Ms Seethakka and six others sat on dharna in front of the Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises to protest the government’s failure to allow a discussion on the Babli issue.

Also on Wednesday, Mr Naidu sought “cleansing” of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board and appointment of persons having faith in the Lord, integrity and honesty as members. He said only honest, pious people should be appointed on the TTD Board.