AP Council to be revived by next Sankranti: Reddy

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council will be revived mid January 2007 when the state celebrates Sankranti festival, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said here today.

Dr Reddy, who is here on an official visit, told mediapersons that he had discussions with Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj on the issue but the reconstitution of the 90-member Council can be done only after the notification by the Election Commission.

''Once they do it, steps would be initiated by the government to fill the house which was abolished during the Telugu Desam regime.

The Parliament has already approved the revival of the House by way of passing necessary legislation,'' he said.

Dr Reddy, who is visiting Delhi the first time after Telangana Rashtra Samiti Chief and former Union Labour Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao quit his office, refused to comment on the issue.

"It is he who has resigned and he should comment. I have nothing to say", he remarked.

He also declined to elaborate on his 45 minute meeting with AICC General Secretary and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who is party incharge of Andhra Pradesh. "We have discussed political issues concerning the state", he said.

To a question about the spurt in naxal activities in the state following the resignation of Mr Rao from the Union Cabinet, Dr Reddy said the state had remained 'alert and watchful' at all times. "They would like to fish in troubled waters and we have to be careful", he said.

The Andhra Chief Minister said the amount of developmental work taking place in all the backward regions and not just in Telangana under his government was ''unique'' and the state had never seen such things in the past. "I am sure people will see and appreciate the good things that have taken place", he said, adding that this had generated confidence in the minds of the people.

''Development will instill confidence in the governance and the government and it is the only answer for the questions raised. All other things could wait,'' he said, adding the state had accorded equal importance to all backward regions despite the limited resources and constraints.

Dr Reddy, who met Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to discuss the central assistance to fight floods and droughts said that the the state's demand seeking Rs 51,000 crore special package to the state may come up before the Cabinet soon after finalisation. This proposal seeks to include Rs 40,000 crore for various proposed irrigation projects and onstruction of 400,000 houses under Indira Awas Yojana.

He said with Mr Pawar he had sought Rs 1000 crore for taking up mitigation meaures like construction of embarkments along Godavari and Nagavalli and Vamshadhara rivers. Mr Pawar had told him that it was not possible to allow such funds under flood relief and the issue would have to be cleared by the Union Cabinet.

UNI MCN VD DB1957

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