'GO 5 controversy: AP CM partially concedes oppn demand

Hyderabad, Aug 2 (UNI) In the wake of persistent demand by the Opposition that the Andhra Pradesh Governemnt must withdraw the 'controversial' order on restructuring of Public Sector Units(PSUs) Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today announced that the GO would be suitably amended ''to dispel doubts''.

''I have asked the Chief Secretary to study the GO in depth and come out with necessary amendments and see that all doubts are dispelled'', he told reporters here this evening.

Denying any moves to retrench employees of PSUs in question, he criticised the opposition of indulging in ''much ado about nothing''.

''Some are unhappy if there are good rains and extremely unhappy if the Government strengthens PSUs'', he remarked.

Stating that the Congress Government in the state, the party high command and the UPA Government were ''totally against'' privatisation of PSUs, he said ''If the Government's intention is to privatise the state-owned Road Transport Corporation, why should it give Rs 380 crore for reviving it last year and make it earn a profit of Rs 140 Crore in first quarter of this year.'' Criticising the Marxists of placing hurdles in the efforts of the Government to take up reforms with a human face, he said even West Bengal Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhatacharjee had made it clear that acquisition of land for projects was inevitable. ''Only in this State, they are opposing even developmental projects'', he opined, adding that even in China, which had taken up reforms in a big way, people were now shy about talking about Communist leader Mao.

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