Rao demands apology from CM

Hyderabad, Sep 14 (UNI) Taking strong objection to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy 'attributing motives' to stir by farmers against power shortage, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President K Chandrasekhara Rao today demanded an apology from him and dismissal of Energy Minister Md Ali Shabbir.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Rao said the party activists would lay a siege to the collectorates in all the Telangana districts tomorrow, demanding that the government should immediately act to save the withering crops.

It was not proper on the part of the Chief Minister to attribute motives to agitations by farmers, some of whom were forced to end their lives, unable to see their crops withering, Mr Rao added.

As head of the government it was his duty to come to the rescue of farmers in distress.

Energy Minister Md Ali Shabbir, who failed to generate enough power even when the major reservoirs were full of water, should be dropped from the Cabinet, he said, adding that no power cut was needed for urban areas and industrial sectors, as adequate hydel power could be generated.

Senior TRS leader A Narendra had visited the fields in Kamareddy, represented by Mr Shabbir, while party MPs, MLAs and functionaries toured the Telangana districts to express solidarity with the farmers, Mr Rao said.

They pressurised the government to come to the rescue of peasants, facing acute shortage of power, he added.

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