The government whips on Sunday defended Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s decision to give special and discretionary funds to MLAs.
Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party office, Chief Whip G Venkat Reddy and Congress Whip in Legislative Council R Padma Raju said that the discretionary funds were meant for the development of backward areas in the State. The funds should not be considered as bribe to MLAs, as these funds are meant for the MLAs of all political parties.
Venkat Reddy also condemned the decision of Telangana Rashtra Samithi to boycott the speech of Governor ESL Narasimhan on the inaugural day of joint-session of budget session. He said that instead of boycott, the political parties should try to discuss and resolve the problems being faced by the people in the House. He also said that if political leaders from the region unite, then the Telangana Bill could also be introduced in the House.
The Chief Whip also appealed to Speaker Nadendla Manohar to take action against the rebel Congress MLAs who have defied the party whip and joined YSR Congress party. (INN)