Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Minister flays Singhal's remarks on conversions

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, SEPT. 7. The statement of the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President, Ashok Singhal, that conversions into Christianity were on the rise after the Congress with the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at the helm of affairs, came to power, was condemned by the Minister for Municipal Administration, Koneru Ranga Rao, here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Pushkaram Media Centre, Mr. Ranga Rao said that Dr. Reddy was not so parochial in his outlook. If Dr. Reddy was so narrow minded, he would not have come twice to Vijayawada to ensure that the Government made the arrangements required to meet the heavy rush of pushkaram pilgrims.

Naidu criticised

Mr. Ranga Rao said Ms.Gandhi knew nothing about religious conversions or political defections.

She had sacrificed the post of Prime Minister for the good of the Congress and the country.

Reacting to the former Chief Minister, N.Chandrababu Naidu's, demand that Dr. Reddy should resign if he cannot control the killing of TDP workers, Mr.Ranga Rao asked why Mr. Naidu did not do so when he was the Chief Minister.

"Thousands" of killings were witnessed during the TDP regime, but none attributed them to the failure of the Chief Minister. "Mr.Naidu should have resigned several times," Mr.Ranga Rao, said.

CM visit today

The Minister said that Dr.Reddy, was scheduled to visit on Wednesday, the closing day of Krishna Pushkarams. He wouldl participate in the 20 pushkara harathi programme at the Punnami-Malleswara bathing ghat that would begin at 3 p.m.

He would also inaugurate an exhibition being arranged by the district administration at the same ghat.

He would go by boat to Durga Ghat and make a traditional offering of turmeric, vermillion, coconut and betel leaves to Krishnaveni matha, the River Goddess.

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