Dismissed minister D L Ravindra Reddy has alleged that the Chief Minister
Kiran Kumar Reddy was claiming only the old schemes of Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as his own
and had not introduced any new schemes.
DL who came back from a trip to London along with his family members, addressed the media at the ‘Media Point’ inside the Assembly premises. Earlier when he tried to address the media at the CLP office, he was not permitted by the CLP staff.
DL claimed that he had not indulged in any anti-party activity and questioned why he was dismissed.
Reminding that he had already submitted his resignation, the former minister said the Chief Minister has to explain why he chose to dismiss him instead of accepting his resignation. He questioned if the Chief Minister expected to scare off the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and the Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha, by sacking him. He clarified that despite being sacked, he would remain loyal to the party. Asserting that he would not work under stooges, he said he would rather quit politics, rather than degrading himself to that level.
Stating that the present government was giving more importance to publicity than welfare or development schemes, he said he also told the Congress president Sonia Gandhi the same thing.
DL questioned to what extent dalits were benefited because of the sub plan. He said as Damodara Raja Narasimha was a Dalit, the Chief Minister was doing all the publicity in his own name for the sub-plan, sidelining Damodara.
Stating that no new scheme was introduced by Kiran, DL said he only renamed YSR’s schemes and was campaigning that they were his own. He said ‘Bangaru Thalli’, Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu and other schemes were prevailing in YSR’s time. He has reminded that YSR had introduced the Lakpati scheme to make every woman a millionaire and the scheme was not publicized. Stating that the Chief Minister had named the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu after him, DL said he was the first Chief Minister to name a scheme after him. He has demanded to know, how many were –provided employment under the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu scheme.
DL lashed out at the Chief Minister by stating that he would not keep quite if the party was sinking. He said he was in the habit of living with self respect and would not compromise with it under any circumstances. DL made it clear that he would remain loyal to the party.
Stating that he had written to the party chief Sonia Gandhi and when she called him, he told her about his opinion on the functioning of the government. He said he would remain loyal to the party and try to bring good name to Sonia Gandhi. He said if lie-detector was conducted, it would be clear who was lying. He said excepting four or five ministers, rest had talked to him and sympathized.
Stating that moral conduct was important in politics, he said he would remain loyal to Sonia Gandhi.
DL said he now planned to go to the workers and would follow their advice. He said he would ask the workers if they want him to continue in the party, come out of it or totally retire from politics. He called those who prevented him from addressing the media at the CLP office as Bacchas (possibly Gandra and Rudraraju). He said those who hurriedly came out TDP and joined Congress were treated better. He said he would also get his opportunity one day. (NSS)
