The Hindu : Front Page : CM apologises for remarks against Naidu

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Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007
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CM apologises for remarks against Naidu

Special Correspondent

Two Telugu dailies draw flak

‘Mr. Naidu’s mother is as much as my mother’
‘TDP chief frustrated for being out of power’

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy tendered an “unconditional apology” in the Assembly on Tuesday for his remarks against Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu and offered to send an all-party delegation to visit Obulapuram mines.

Replying to a stormy debate on the Obulapuram incidents after 34 TDP members were suspended for the third time in two days, he clarified that he meant that after his effective reply to Mr. Naidu, the latter would wish he were not born to his mother. “I regret the remark if Mr Naidu feels hurt. Mr. Naidu’s mother is as much as my mother. I have respect for everyone’s mother.”

Family’s estate

The Chief Minister offered to organise a visit by an all-party delegation to Obulapuram mines as well as the sites allotted to Brahmini Steels and M/s Raghuram Cements in which his son is a director, besides his family’s estate at Idupalapaya, all in Kadapa district, and the limestone mines of Trishul Cements in Anantapur district. He requested Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy to fix a date for the visit.

Dr. Reddy launched a trenchant attack on Mr. Naidu accusing him of suffering from frustration for being out of power. Appealing to the TDP leader not to threaten entrepreneurs coming forward to set up industries, he also criticised two Telugu dailies for running a campaign against his Government. As the Obulapuram issue dominated proceedings in the legislature once again, TDP members in the Assembly and the Council were suspended for stalling their respective Houses demanding an apology from Dr. Reddy. They resorted to slogan shouting and holding aloft banners denouncing the Chief Minister. In the Council, members of CPI, CPI (M) and People’s Democratic Front staged a walkout to protest against TDP members’ suspension.

Referring to the Government argument that it was during the TDP regime in 2002 that the mining lease was granted to OMC, Mr. Naidu said it was only a transfer from Ram Mohan Reddy (who was given the original lease in 1963 and renewed in 1984) to OMC owner G. Janardhan Reddy. This was done in a routine manner at the local level of Assistant Director of Mines. “If the present Government thinks we have committed a mistake, it should cancel the lease. Why is it defending a private individual if it has no vested interests?”

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