New Delhi:
Holding the Centre and Congress responsible for Maharashtra government's attitude, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday threatened to launch a mass agitation programme if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fails to resolve the Babhli issue amicably by August 10.
A day after meeting Singh as part of an all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh, he accused the Prime Minister of not being interested in solving the problems the state has with Maharashtra.
"Why is he (Singh) silent? Yesterday's was the third representation that the parties from Andhra made to the Prime Minister on the Babhli issue in three years. Still he told the delegation that he will first talk to technical experts and see what can be done. He is not interested," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Naidu said the Central Government headed by Congress should take responsibility and amicably solve the Babhli barrage issue. He also alleged that the Babhli barrage was an "illegal construction" as it is being constructed by Maharashtra in the "submergence area."
"I am telling the Prime Minister that he should solve the issue. The Central government and Congress are responsible. We are giving him 15 days to solve the issue, otherwise TDP along with like-minded parties will launch a mass agitation. The date is August 10," he said.
However, the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister refused to make public the form of his agitation. Singh had assured the delegation on Monday that he would intervene and try to sort out the problems between the two states on Babhli.
Andhra Pradesh accuses the Maharashtra government of carrying out illegal construction and installing gates at the Babhli barrage against a Supreme Court order, but Maharashtra disputes it.
Naidu said the Maharashtra Government has "illegally" erected the 14 gates at the Babhli barrage in Nanded district, which is against a Supreme Court order.
"The Maharashtra government has gone against the directions of the Centre and orders of the Supreme Court. But still the Prime Minister says he can sort out after consulting technical experts," he said.
Naidu also accused Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaiah of failing to protect the rights of the state and pursuing the contempt petition filed against Maharashtra government.
"The contempt petition was filed last year and it is not being pursued. The Andhra government has failed the people of the state," Naidu said. He added that all steps should be taken to protect the interests of the lower riparian states.