The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mareppa takes offence to PCC chief’s remarks

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Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mareppa takes offence to PCC chief’s remarks

Special Correspondent

Says his statement on Telangana issue was misinterpreted

KURNOOL: Marketing Minister M. Mareppa on Tuesday withdrew his controversial remarks on Telangana that drew flak from his own party leaders and claimed that his statement was misinterpreted.

Talking to reporters, the Minister said what he meant was “hungry bellies required soup not scriptures”.

According to him, the State, especially the weaker sections, required development not division into Andhra and Telangana. Mr. Mareppa took umbrage at his own party leaders for finding fault with him saying the Congress leaders from other parts of the State did not enjoy the kind of freedom like those in Telangana.

Mr. Mareppa said the bifurcation of the State should have the approval of SC, ST, BC and Minorities, who constitute 85 per cent of the population. The issue of statehood was not raised as long as Telangana leaders headed the government. It’s being pursued vigorously since Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy took over the reins. Mr. Mareppa accused TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao of being silent on the issue as long as he was a Union Minister.

Sore at MSR too

The Minister expressed his unhappiness over APPC president D. Srinivas and APSRTC Chairman M. Satyanarayana Rao for making an issue out of his remarks.

They should know that he was speaking on behalf of the weaker sections and any punishment meted out to him would also apply to the people he represented, he said.

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