Hyderabad, November 17: As the differences between Congress MPs Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and K Keshava Rao reached a disturbing high, the Congress high command has swung into action to control the damage that it might cause to the party.
Union minister S Jaipal Reddy is reported to have called up the two leaders and appealed to them to maintain restraint lest the party’s image would take a battering.
Keshava Rao flew into a rage against Sambasiva Rao at a meeting called to promote unanimity among the Telangana and Andhra MPs on the Indira Sagar (Polavaram) irrigation project at the residence of Congress MP Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy in Delhi last night. Taking objection to Sambasiva Rao’s alleged use of derogatory language while referring to tribals who will lose their moorings if the dam is built is as per the present plan, Keshava Rao demanded an apology. He said he would not tolerate upper-caste arrogance.
However, Sambasiva Rao refused to tender any apology contending that he did not use any derogatory language against tribals. He, on the other hand, described Keshava Rao as a blackmailer and regretted that such a person was on the Congress Working Committee.
“If somebody demands an apology from you, do you say sorry even if you have not committed any mistake? This is blackmailing. You call them and let there be a debate on the issue.
Ask whatever the questions you want. And you will know the facts,’’ Sambasiva Rao said.
“It is unfortunate that we have such people as CWC members,’’ he said.
Asked if Keshava Rao had lost his control, he said “Whether Keshava Rao derisively remarked if he had had such thing in the first place.’’ “It is not just age but intellect (buddhi) that should also grow,’’ Kavuri said.
“The lot of tribals displaced by the Kolleru project has, in fact, improved after the government’s rehabilitation project. We want to see that tribals who face the threat of inundation are given lands elsewhere in the district so that they can settle down… Do you think tribals should remain in the forests forever? Should they not join the mainstream? “Almost every government had promised taking up the Polavaram project but did not keep their word.
When the Congress government began the project in 2004, the opposition leaders said the project would not be feasible as there was no money and in the absence of environmental clearance.
When the permission was accorded, they changed tack and began saying that the project would cause inundation of 176 tribal villages.
“One important aspect one should understand is that tribals had, from the beginning, inhabited rain-fed regions.
They had no assured water.
There is no meaner thing than making a living in the name of tribals.
Such leaders never fought for their cause, made any sacrifice or helped them. Let them open up if they had any such history.’’ As for Rajya Sabha member and Telangana leader Keshava Rao accusing him of upper-caste arrogance, the Lok Sabha member from Eluru in West Godavari district pointed out that he had raised his voice in Parliament when upper castes troubled Dalits at Karamchedu in Prakasam district. “People know it,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Keshava Rao said that he was disturbed. ‘’This is not the way to talk. I am very sensitive as far as tribals are concerned,’’ he said.
–Agencies