BJP criticises Congress over mishandling of Telangana issue

Jabalpur: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday blamed the ruling Congress party for mishandling the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and spreading resentment among the people of the state.

On July 31 this year, the Congress had passed a resolution for the creation of the new Telangana state, a move that revived deep political divisions. After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the creation of Telangana would lead to the formation of India`s 29th state. Joshi said the BJP supported the bifurcation, however, it was against the mishandling of the entire procedure that also fuelled protests and violence. "What is the Congress party doing in Andhra Pradesh? We are in the favour of forming Telangana state but the Congress Party has created differences among the people of Andhra Pradesh. There is resentment and a clash of ideology between the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Congress Party is giving rise to two different societies by such a mismanaged bifurcation," Joshi said. Political analysts observed this as a move by the ruling party to shore up its political fortunes after dragging its feet over the explosive issue for four decades. The Congress party is expected to table the bifurcation bill during the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament. On the issue of inflation, Joshi said the Congress party is putting the burden of its wrong financial policies on the common man. "Leaders of the Congress Party are only capable of putting the blame of its misgovernance and wrong financial policies on the common man," he added. India`s wholesale price index based headline inflation rose to an eight-month high in October at 7 percent, driven by costlier fuel and manufactured goods, raising the prospect of a fresh interest rate hike. Earlier on November 21, India`s Finance Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram said the fiscal deficit target of 4.8 percent of gross domestic product in 2012/13 would not be breached under any circumstances, even as many private economists say the deficit could cross the five percent mark.