27.6.13

What a shame !


Regional politics pushed the relief and rescue operations in Uttarakhand to the background with Congress and TDP leaders literally fighting it out between themselves in Dehradun to transport the stranded AP pilgrims from the hill state to Hyderabad.
The embarrassing drama took place at Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport on Wednesday afternoon. While the Congress’ state government had arranged a Jet Airways Boeing 737 aircraft to ferry 168 pilgrims to Hyderabad, the TDP also had a Boeing 737 aircraft with carrying capacity of 190 passengers on standby. Those present to oversee the transportation of pilgrims on behalf of the state government and Congress comprised Union minister Balram Naik, state ministers D Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumanth Rao. The TDP team comprised its president Chandrababu Naidu, MPs Ramesh Rathod, Nama Nageshwar Rao and K Narayana Rao. Both groups also had a large group of supporters in tow.
The trouble started when a bus load of pilgrims was making its way towards the aircraft arranged by the TDP. On noticing this, the Congress leaders directed the security personnel to divert them to the aircraft hired by the AP government. At this point, the two groups got into an ugly verbal and physical fight. Hanumanth Rao and Ramesh Rathod argued, shoved and pushed one another, after which the Congress MP got into a fight with TDP’s Narayana Rao. TV grabs showed Union minister Balram Naik telling Narayana Rao that he would ‘cut him into pieces’ if he came in the way of the pilgrims.

No comments: