The Hindu : Stone laid for BJP's State office

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Stone laid for BJP's State office

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Jan. 6. The foundation stone for the State BJP office building was laid by the party's president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, at the Mozamjahi Market road opposite Exhibition Grounds here on Monday.

The 2,500 sq.yd plot, which belongs to the A. P. Housing Board, has been given on 33-year lease by the State Government. Three floors with a total area of 25,000 sq. ft are proposed to be constructed in the first phase and five floors in the next. The long-overdue stone-laying function became possible after a civil court dismissed a petition against the allotment.

Mr. Naidu said there was no need for a debate on the issue of allotment of Government land to political parties since the latter were people's organisations with an ideological mission. Political leaders were rivals but not enemies since they had the common aim of serving the people.

He was referring to speeches by the earlier speakers who recalled the various hurdles faced by the party in taking possession of the land. These included eviction of some 63 people residing there, civil litigation and criticism from the media.

The Union Minister of State for Railways, Bandaru Dattatreya, said the BJP was gaining respect and popularity after its victory in Gujarat. He sought to impress upon his party cadres the need to develop the BJP as an alternative force in AP.

The BJP State president, C. Ramachandra Reddy, said his term in office was getting over and he had been wary whether the foundation stone could be laid during his tenure. The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, U. V. Krishnam Raju, and the BJP floor leader in the Assembly, N. Indrasena Reddy, also spoke.

The former party chief, P. V. Chalapathi Rao, donated a sum of Rs. 1 lakh for the party building. Several other leaders also came forward with on-the spot contributions which neared Rs. 3.30 lakhs.

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