Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao charged AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of degrading the image of the people of his own state by trying to impose on them his “dirty tricks” for selfish political ends.
Interacting with the media after his meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Saturday KTR said that it was unbecoming of a leader of his stature (AP CM) to create hatred and bad blood among the people with his utterances. As for as the cash-for-vote issue is concerned the law would take its own course of action, he observed.
Referring to the controversy raging between the two Telugu States regarding Section 8 of AP Reorganization Act, the IT Minister recalled the statement made by Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha to the effect Section 8 was an infringement into the powers of the states and that it is irrelevant without necessary constitutional amendments.
Asserting that there was no scope of invoking Section 8 in the joint capital of Hyderabad as there was no threat to law and order situation and only harmonious conditions prevailing, KTR lambasted Chandrababu Naidu of vitiating the peaceful atmosphere with his desperate acts. Law is equal to all and not the prerogative to any individual and it would deal whenever the situation warranted.
Asked about speculations over replacement of Governor ESL Narasimhan, the IT Minister reminded that it is matter of the Centre’s prerogative and does not come under the purview of the states.
The IT Minister arrived in New Delhi this morning to attend the meeting of State Finance Ministers. Since Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender is recuperating from injuries sustained after an accident, KTR represented on his behalf at the meeting.
He brought it to the notice of Union Finance Minister about taking away an amount of Rs.1274 crores from Telangana State’s funds and urged that it should reimbursed forthwith (The amount pertains to AP Beverages Corporation Ltd). If at all the Centre intended to recover the amount, it should be done on 58:42 percent between AP and Telangana States, he informed Jaitley.
KTR said the Union Finance Minister had appreciated the Telangana Government’s new industrial policy and sought more information in this regard (NSS).