Purandeswari left over port issue: Jairam

• She denies allegation, says he has no understanding on issue
• Cong gets into major offensive to stall more key desertions

Hyderabad: Piqued over the decision of former Union Minister Daggubati Purandeswari to join BJP, the Congress party made an effort to try and stem desertions of important party leaders from the State, by making sensational comments against the former minister.

Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that she had betrayed the faith that the party had reposed in her. He said the Congress party had given her all that she wanted when she was a central minister and helped her reach great heights in her political career.

He alleged that Purandeswari had left the party not because any injustice was meted out to the Seemandhra region as she was claiming but because the Centre did not concede her demand that a port be constructed at Ramayampatnam in Prakasam district where her family owns 1000 acres of land.

Jairam said this had led to skyrocketing of land prices and large-scale real estate business in that part. But the Centre after considering all aspects decided to construct the port at Duggirajapatnam in Nellore district. This had annoyed the Daggubati couple, Jairam said.

However, Purandeswari who was Delhi meeting the top leadership of BJP prior to her formally joining the party, condemned the statement of Jairam Ramesh and said that the union minister had no understanding of the issue. Even the senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the Congress party can say anything and level any kind of allegation. He said Jairam was known for talking anything he liked. Even on the issue of the State reorganisation Bill, Jairam had made all kinds of claims, alleging that the BJP did not demand the sops that the Prime Minister had announced for Seemandhra in the Rajya Sabha. However, the fact remains that there were speculations about the possibility of a port coming up at Ramayampatnam. This led to large scale-real estate business. Several politicians, doctors and business people purchased huge chunks of land at an exorbitant rate of Rs 50 lakh per acre. Even some leaders from neighbouring states invested in the land. Maximum transactions have taken place in Ulavapadu, Gudluru, Kandukuru and Tettu mandals of Prakasam district.

At one stage even a central committee visited this area, giving credence to the rumours that a port would be constructed here.

Against the backdrop of this scenario, local people say that there was a possibility that the Daggupati couple might have purchased land in benami names.