Govt's stand made clear to US Ambassador: CM

Hyderabad, Oct 13 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said his government would take all steps to protect the 'state's interest' with reference to cancellation of land allotted by the previous TDP Government to 'IMG Bharata', a sports management company and claimed to be a 'subsidiary' of the US-based IMG Academies.

When US Ambassador to India David C Mulford enquired about the matter, he said the bonafides of the company had to be cleared, Mr Reddy told reporters here.

''When somebody tries to loot the state, are we to remain silent'', he asked defending the Congress Government's decision to promulgate an ordinance to cancel an allocation of 850 acres of land at cheap price and refer the matter to the CBI for a thorough probe.

On the company's threat to take legal recourse and the government's version that 'IMG Bharat' claimed that it was a subsidiary of 'IMG east' and part of the family of 'IMG International', Florida, he said there was nothing on record to prove this.

The previous Chandrababu Naidu government had entered into an agreement with the IMG in August 2003 and gave it a mandate to manage sports complexes and promote sports events in the state.

UNI SM SY HT1818