The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Resignation letter with YSR, says KandaTakes moral responsibility for Pushkaram tragedy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Resignation letter with YSR, says KandaTakes moral responsibility for Pushkaram tragedy

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, AUG. 31. The Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, clarified on Tuesday that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on moral grounds and it was up to the latter to judge his performance. Dr. Kanda made this offer to the Chief Minister in the wake of the Pushkaram tragedy.

Talking to The Hindu , Dr. Kanda said he had sincerely expressed his willingness to step down owning moral responsibility. Perhaps, there was no better way to know how the Chief Minister rated him, he felt. "I cannot demit the office just like that, nor can I walk away either for it will attract suspension,'' he said.

He ruled out any laxity on the part of the Government in making the arrangements for the Krishna Pushkarams. An elaborate exercise had gone in with the greatest concern for safety, health and convenience of the pilgrims. But, at the cutting edge level, there could be slippage. Human error and not faulty planning resulted in the tragedy, he admitted.

"Here comes the factor of accountability," he said defending the action against some officials in this regard.

Brushing aside criticism that the administration was either enjoying an executive holiday or had no coordination at all, he said it was in the process of adapting itself to the new political environment. It would take some time for that.

Changed situation

Dr. Kanda felt that a change in the Government would always make the administration pause for a breath to understand the new dynamics.

"The political priorities have been set. Implementation part is now our job," he added. Describing State administration as one of those well preserved and competitive systems in the country, Dr. Kanda said it would not take longer for those redeployed to get adjusted to the new environment. "Initial hiccups are also part of the process (change)," he said.

Dr. Kanda, who is leaving for Niger to attend the ICRISAT Board meeting on September 5 in his capacity as board member, was hopeful that the State Government would prevail upon the ICRISAT management to continue its operations here in full swing "with the same volume and with the same quality of attention."

He said though one would not disagree with the ICRISAT contention that Africa, perhaps, needed greater attention, it was also important to ensure the organisation's full-fledged operations in the State.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh