Andhra Pradesh   

Congress for second SRC, says Rajasekhara Reddy

Special Correspondent

Defends Government amid Volkswagen controversy

NEW DELHI: Amid the botched-up controversial investment in Volkswagen automotive plant and a standoff with an electoral ally, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, met the Congress central leadership here on Tuesday.

Dr. Reddy, who arrived on Monday night for the scheduled Wednesday meeting with the TRS chief and Union Minister, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, called on the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to discuss the latest political situation and "contemporary issues," as the Chief Minister put it.

While he did not elaborate on the nature of discussion at a news conference, Dr. Reddy declared his Government was "transparent" and there was nothing to hide. Citing the alacrity with which the State Government ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the Volkswagen case and judicial probe into the endowments land transfer issue as cases in point, the Chief Minister said all those found guilty would be brought to book.

"We are transparent and do not have anything to hide, whether it is the temple land transfer case, the Paritala Ravi murder case or the Volkswagen issue. If we had, why would my Government order investigation?" Dr. Reddy asked.

To clear air

On the expectation from his meeting with the TRS chief, Dr. Reddy said: "It is a friendly party and if there are any misconceptions or apprehensions it is necessary to clear the air."

As regards separate Telangana, Dr. Reddy said before the Assembly elections last year, both the Congress and TRS were party to a joint declaration that if a need arose, a second States Reorganisation Commission could be set up.

The Congress party was for it. "If one (TRS) is not in agreement, it is a different thing," he said. On the articulation in the Common Minimum Programme, he said, if there was some consensus among all parties on creation of separate Telangana, it was fine for him.

On talks with naxalites, he reiterated they would have to give up weapons.

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