AP Minister defends Sonia Gandhi's visit

Hyderabad, Aug 21 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao today defended Congress president Sonia Gandhi's visit to the flood-hit state, saying she wanted to 'wipe the tears' of the affected people.

Referring to Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu questioning the relevance of Ms Gandhi's visit, Mr Rao told the State Assembly that Ms Gandhi, as chairperson of the UPA, had every right to visit the state.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had visited the state as head of the Cabinet sub-committee on Natural Calamities.

He said they returned to New Delhi only after they were fully appraised of the flood situation by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Refuting the opposition charge that the state had not benefitted much from the visits of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as also Ms Gandhi and Mr Patil, Mr Rao said it was unfortunate that they were unable to appreciate the Centre for releasing Rs 200 crore in advance from the National Calamity Relief Fund coinciding with the visit of Ms Gandhi and Mr Patil and another Rs 200 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

Turning down the Opposition's demand that the State Assembly pass a resolution urging the Centre to declare the floods as 'National Calamity' he said, ''There is no need for such a resolution as the Centre is already examining the state's request in this regard.'' It was because of the previous TDP Government, the Centre had reduced the kerosene quota of the state and the Congress Government was striving to increase it, he added.

UNI SM AK HT1955