The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Council only to rehabilitate Congress leaders: Yanamala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Council only to rehabilitate Congress leaders: Yanamala

By Our Special Correspondent

RAJAHMUNDRY, JULY 11. The former Finance Minister, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, has said that the only purpose of reviving the Legislative Council is to provide political rehabilitation to the Congress leaders rejected by people and that such a step will serve no other purpose.

Speaking to newsmen at Tuni, about 90 km from here, on Sunday, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said the cost of such a step would be around Rs. 20 crores. "It will be a waste and is avoidable," he said.

The State is beset with serious problems like farmers suicides -- according to him 600 farmers had committed suicide after Congress took over the reigns of power -- and drought, he pointed out, questioning the haste with which the Bill for the same was passed in the Assembly.

The trend in the country was to do away with councils, but in Andhra Pradesh it was being revived, he remarked, asserting that people have a right to know why such a step was being taken.

He appealed to the President and the Centre to reject the Bill seeking revival of the Legislative Council. The Constitution does not stipulate that States should have Legislative Councils, he added.

Answering a question, the former Minister observed that the Congress Government would collapse owing internal squabbles among its leaders and that no efforts were needed by his party to work out a strategy. Once the expansion of Cabinet is completed, interesting developments would emerge, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said.

He also referred to the meagre allocation of Rs. 49 crores for the Pushkaram Lift Irrigation scheme and said that at this rate the scheme would take more than five years for completion.

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