The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Raghuveera makes amends

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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Raghuveera makes amends

Special Correspondent

Minister sends reply to EC notice seeking explanation for his remarks

Agriculture Minister says that he holds the Constitutional body in the highest esteem
Chief Secretary too replies to another EC notice seeking clarification on four policy decisions

N. Raghuveera Reddy

HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy here on Wednesday sought to make amends for his controversial remarks about the Election Commission by saying that he held the Constitutional body in the highest esteem.

The Minister sent his reply to the Commission’s notice seeking an explanation for his remarks.

He had criticised the EC for not responding to the Government’s request to allow ‘Rythu Chaitanya Yatra’ in the districts that will witness byelections on May 29. He had only stated that it was “wrong” if the commission rejected the permission.

Minister’s confession

Mr. Raghuveera Reddy admitted that he had used the word “wrong” when asked by a reporter to react to the reported rejection of the permission.

The truth was that the EC had not taken any decision till then on the matter, let alone rejecting the request.

The Agriculture Minister expressed gratitude to the commission for finally permitting the programme from May 17 to June 3 as originally planned.

He said his intention in using such a word was not to fault the EC but only to convey his concern over the fate of the farmers if the permission was rejected.

Sources said Chief Secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy too replied to another notice served by the EC seeking clarification on four policy decisions announced by the Government while the byelection process was on. In his letter, he reportedly explained that the four decisions were part of the ongoing programmes of the Government.

Meeting at Delhi

The four decisions were enhancement of income limit to issue white ration cards, sale of red gram and palm oil at reduced rates from June 1, scrapping of cases against energy pilferers along with waiver of arrears and fresh power connections to them.

The Chief Secretary is attending a meeting convened by the Election Commission at Delhi on May 16 to discuss election-related matters.

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