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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Andhra Pradesh
By Our Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD, JULY 28. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today offered to look into the demand for ordering an inquiry against the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, on charges of enjoying possession of Government land in his native Nellore district for which he was not entitled. He was responding to a representation submitted by the Congress MP, V. Hanumantha Rao, seeking registration of a case against Mr. Naidu under the A. P. Land Assignment Act. Mr. Hanumantha Rao was referring to a two-year-old controversy over the BJP president and his relatives obtaining what is called `D-form pattas' in 1978 in Kasumuru village of Venkatachalam Mandal in Nellore district. They were allotted 40.15 acres of land after Mr. Naidu claimed that he was a poor person though he came from an affluent family, he alleged. After Congress leaders demanded action against the BJP chief, the latter requested the Nellore District Collector in 2002 to cancel the D-form pattas and distribute the land to eligible persons. Concurring with the view that Mr. Naidu had returned the land only after enjoying possession for 24 years, the Chief Minister said the Government would look into the matter but declined to specify whether he would order an enquiry into it.
Austria visit cancelled
Meanwhile, Dr. Reddy confirmed reports that he had cancelled his proposed five-day tour of Austria from August 1 to sign an agreement for Austrian assistance of Rs. 3,400 crores for irrigation projects. Explaining the reasons, he said he felt it would be inappropriate to go abroad when farmers were suffering due to drought. He would stay back to daily monitor the irrigation facilities. The Chief Minister shook his head when asked whether he had called off his visit in view of the impending expansion of his 31-member Cabinet. However, he parried questions whether he was planning to expand his Council of Ministers soon.
Irrigation a thrust area
The Chief Minister, who was talking to reporters before his departure to Karimnagar district to lay the foundation-stone for the Yellampalli project, said there was no dearth of funds for building irrigation schemes. His Government had earmarked Rs. 4,200 crores for irrigation this year and it would not be a problem to spend an additional Rs. 1,000 crores on irrigation, he added. Answering a question, Dr. Reddy said he saw nothing wrong in the Government using Sonia Gandhi's photos in offices and in official calendars. He pointed out that portraits of leaders like Mao and Kruschev were displayed in their respective countries because of their service in public life. The same analogy held good for Ms. Gandhi, he added.
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