TDP presses for judicial probe into irrigation scam

Hyderabad, Oct 7 (UNI) The opposition Telugu Desam today challenged the Congress Government to order a probe by a sitting Supreme Court or High Court judge into alleged irregularities in implementation of the 'Jalayagnam' programme and sought removal of Irrigation Advisor R Sitapathi Rao for 'exceeding' his limits'.

TDP spokesman and former Union Minister S Venugopalachari told the press Marketing Minister B Satyanarayana, whose portfolio had been changed for his alleged involvement in a scam relating to setting up of a car project by Volkeswagen, could not claim innocence by signing a legal undertaking on a 100 rupee stamp paper. 'Everyone very well knows why he lost the Major Industries portfolio.' Mr Satyanarayana had hurt religious sentiments by stating that if the TDP could prove its allegation, it would give the tainted amount as donation for building a guest house for pilgrims visiting the Dargah of Khwaja Moinudeen Chisti at Ajmer, he said.

The TDP, which had named Mr Satyanarayana as a beneficiary of project contracts, would shortly come out with a list of Congress MPs and MLAs who had benefited by the 'Jalayaganam', he said.

He accused the Congress Government of neglecting the minor irrigation sector, resulting in reduction of irrigation to 15 lakh acre against the normal extent of 20 lakh acre.

It was improper on Mr Sitapathi's part to turn his ire on state Vigilance Department officials for their report against him and to engage in a war of words with the Irrigation Secretary, he said, adding, the Chief Minister should immediately be removed from his post.

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