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Laloo takes 'rich brother' Naidu to task

Our Correspondent in Patna

The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Tuesday attacked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for working overtime to deny the poorer states their due.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is part of the ruling coalition at the Centre, has led a revolt against the Eleventh Finance Commission recommendations which seek to allocate a greater share of central funds to poorer states. Monday he held a conclave of chief ministers of developed states in Delhi to oppose what he calls "discrimination" against developed states.

"If one brother remains poor for some reason, it is obligatory on the other brother to come to his rescue," Laloo said at a press conference in Patna. He regretted that Naidu was doing just the opposite.

Laloo noted happily that some chief ministers (of developed states) did not attend Monday's meeting in Delhi. "They have understood Naidu's real motive," he said.

Laloo said his wife and Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi had written a letter to Vajpayee urging him not to succumb to Naidu's pressure tactics.

Congress general secretary and in-charge Bihar affairs, Mohsina Kidwai, who was present at the press conference, defended the criteria of poverty fixed by the chairman of the Eleventh Finance Commission, A M Khusro.

Laloo said the state would also seek a compensation of Rs 1,79,000 crore for the loss of mineral rich south Bihar, which has been carved out as a separate state of Jharkhand.

ALSO SEE
EFC drafting plan to reward efficient states
Vajpayee agrees to consider richer states' demands
We are not against poor states: Chandrababu Naidu

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